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PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP INC - Annual Report: 2019 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
 
FORM 10-K
 
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019
 
Commission File No.: 0-22193
ppbilogo15.jpg
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware                                                                33-0743196
(State of Incorporation)                        (I.R.S. Employer Identification No)
 
17901 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 1200, Irvine, California 92614
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (949) 864-8000
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
 
Trading Symbol
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
 
PPBI
 
NASDAQ Stock Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes No
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes  No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one).
Large accelerated filer
 
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes No
 
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, i.e., persons other than directors and executive officers of the registrant, was approximately $1.82 billion and was based upon the closing price per share as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market as of June 28, 2019, the last business day of the most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

As of February 21, 2020, the Registrant had 59,576,999 shares outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The information required by Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K will be found in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such information is incorporated herein by this reference.



TABLE OF CONTENTS



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PART I
 
ITEM 1.  BUSINESS
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
All references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Pacific Premier” or the “Company” mean Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. and our consolidated subsidiaries, including Pacific Premier Bank, our primary operating subsidiary. All references to the ‘’Bank’’ refer to Pacific Premier Bank. All references to the “Corporation” refer to Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.
 
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements represent plans, estimates, objectives, goals, guidelines, expectations, intentions, projections and statements of our beliefs concerning future events, business plans, objectives, expected operating results and the assumptions upon which those statements are based. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and are typically identified with words such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” or words or phases of similar meaning. We caution that the forward-looking statements are based largely on our expectations and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on factors, which are in many instances, beyond our control. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
 
The following factors, among others, could cause our financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in such forward-looking statements:

The strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations;
The effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”);
Inflation/deflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations;
The effect of changes in accounting policies and practices or accounting standards, as may be adopted from time-to-time by bank regulatory agencies, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) or other accounting standards setters, including Accounting Standards Update (“ASU” or “Update”) 2016-13 (Topic 326), “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” commonly referenced as the Current Expected Credit Loss (“CECL”) model, which will change how we estimate credit losses and may increase the required level of our allowance for credit losses after adoption on January 1, 2020;
The effect of acquisitions we may make, such as our pending acquisition of Opus Bank, including, without limitation, the failure to achieve the expected revenue growth and/or expense savings from such acquisitions, and/or the failure to effectively integrate an acquisition target into our operations;
The timely development of competitive new products and services and the acceptance of these products and services by new and existing customers;
The impact of changes in financial services policies, laws and regulations, including those concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance, and the application thereof by regulatory bodies;
Uncertainty relating to the London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) calculation process and potential phasing out of LIBOR after 2021;
The effectiveness of our risk management framework and quantitative models;
Changes in the level of our nonperforming assets and charge-offs;
Deterioration in the value of its investment securities;

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The impact of current governmental efforts to restructure the U.S. financial regulatory system, including any amendments to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”);
Changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits;
The effects of our lack of a diversified loan portfolio, including the risks of geographic and industry concentrations;
Our ability to attract deposits and other sources of liquidity;
The possibility that we may reduce or discontinue the payments of dividends on common stock;
Changes in the financial performance and/or condition of our borrowers;
Changes in the competitive environment among financial and bank holding companies and other financial service providers;
Geopolitical conditions, including acts or threats of terrorism, actions taken by the United States or other governments in response to acts or threats of terrorism and/or military conflicts, which could impact business and economic conditions in the United States and abroad;
Cybersecurity threats and the cost of defending against them, including the costs of compliance with potential legislation to combat cybersecurity at a state, national or global level;
Natural disasters, earthquakes, fires, and severe weather;
Unanticipated regulatory, legal or judicial proceedings; and
Our ability to manage the risks involved in the foregoing.

If one or more of the factors affecting our forward-looking information and statements proves incorrect, then our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, forward-looking information and statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports and registration statements filed by us with the SEC. Therefore, we caution you not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking information and statements. We will not update the forward-looking information and statements to reflect actual results or changes in the factors affecting the forward-looking information and statements. For information on the factors that could cause actual results to differ from the expectations stated in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Forward-looking information and statements should not be viewed as predictions, and should not be the primary basis upon which investors evaluate us. Any investor in our common stock should consider all risks and uncertainties disclosed in our filings with the SEC, all of which are accessible on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 

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Overview
 
We are a California-based bank holding company incorporated in 1997 in the State of Delaware and a registered bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (“BHCA”). Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Pacific Premier Bank, is a California state-chartered commercial bank. The Bank was founded in 1983 as a state-chartered thrift and subsequently converted to a federally-chartered thrift in 1991. The Bank converted to a California-chartered commercial bank and became a member of the Federal Reserve System in March of 2007. The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (“FHLB”), which is a member bank of the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Bank’s deposit accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to the maximum amount currently allowable under federal law. The Bank is currently subject to examination and regulation by the Federal Reserve and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (“FRB”), the California Department of Business Oversight-Division of Financial Institutions (“DBO”), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) and the FDIC.
 
We are an innovative growth company keenly focused on building shareholder value through consistent earnings, creating franchise value and effectively managing capital. Our growth is derived both organically and through acquisitions of financial institutions and lines of business that complement our commercial business banking strategy. The Bank’s primary target market is small and middle market businesses.
 
We primarily conduct business throughout California from our 41 full-service depository branches in the counties of Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, California as well as markets in Pima and Maricopa Counties, Arizona, Clark County, Nevada and Clark County, Washington.
 
We provide banking services within our targeted markets to businesses, including the owners and employees of those businesses, professionals, real estate investors and non-profit organizations. Additionally, we provide certain banking services nationwide. We provide customized cash management, electronic banking services and credit facilities to Homeowners’ Associations (“HOA”) and HOA management companies nationwide. We provide U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans nationwide, which provide entrepreneurs and small business owners access to credit needed for working capital and continued growth. In addition, we offer loans and other services nationwide to experienced owner-operator franchisees in the quick service restaurant (“QSR”) industry.
 
Through our branches and our internet website at www.ppbi.com, we offer a broad array of deposit products and services, including checking, money market and savings accounts, electronic banking services, treasury management services and on-line bill payment. We also offer a wide array of loan products, such as commercial business loans, lines of credit, SBA loans, commercial real estate (“CRE”) loans, agribusiness loans, home equity lines of credit, construction loans, farmland and consumer loans. At December 31, 2019, we had consolidated total assets of $11.78 billion, net loans of $8.69 billion, total deposits of $8.90 billion and consolidated total stockholders’ equity of $2.01 billion. At December 31, 2019, the Bank was considered a “well-capitalized” financial institution for regulatory capital purposes.
 
The Corporation’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “PPBI.” There are 150 million authorized shares of the Corporation’s common stock, with approximately 59.5 million shares outstanding as of December 31, 2019. The Corporation has an additional 1.0 million authorized shares of preferred stock, none of which has been issued to date.
    

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Our executive offices are located at 17901 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 1200, Irvine, California 92614, and our telephone number is (949) 864-8000. Our internet website address is www.ppbi.com. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments thereto, that have been filed with the SEC are available free of charge on our website. Also on our website are our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Share Ownership and Insider Trading and Disclosure Policy, Corporate Governance Policy and beneficial ownership forms for our executive officers and directors, as well as the charters for our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Governance Committee and Enterprise Risk Management Committee. The information contained on our website or in any websites linked by our website is not a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Recent Developments

Pending Acquisition of Opus Bank—On January 31, 2020, we entered into a definitive agreement with Opus Bank (“Opus”) to acquire Opus in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.0 billion, or $26.82 per share, based on a closing price for the Corporation’s common stock of $29.80 as of January 31, 2020. Opus is headquartered in Irvine, California with $8.0 billion in total assets, $5.9 billion in gross loans and $6.5 billion in total deposits as of December 31, 2019. Opus operates 46 banking offices located throughout California, Washington, Oregon and Arizona.

The consideration payable to Opus shareholders upon consummation of the acquisition will consist of whole shares of the Corporation’s common stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of the Corporation’s common stock. Upon consummation of the transaction, (i) each share of Opus common stock, no par value per share, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the acquisition will be canceled and exchanged for the right to receive 0.9000 shares of the Corporation’s common stock, and (ii) each share of Opus Series A non-cumulative, non-voting preferred stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the acquisition will be converted into and canceled in exchange for the right to receive that number of shares of the Corporation’s common stock equal to the product of (X) the number of shares of Opus common stock into which such share of Opus preferred stock is convertible in connection with, and as a result of, the acquisition, and (Y) 0.9000, in each case, plus cash in lieu of fractional shares of the Corporation’s common stock.

The proposed transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and shareholder approval from the Corporation’s and Opus’s shareholders. Opus directors who own shares of Opus common stock, certain executive officers and shareholders of Opus, who own in the aggregate approximately 19% of the outstanding shares of Opus common stock and approximately 98% of the outstanding shares of Opus preferred stock, have entered into agreements with the Corporation, the Bank and Opus pursuant to which they have committed to vote their shares of Opus common stock and Opus preferred stock in favor of the acquisition. For additional information about the proposed acquisition of Opus, see the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 6, 2020 and the definitive agreement filed therewith.    


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Our Strategic Plan
 
Our strategic plan is focused on generating organic growth through a technology enabled, consistent business development process. Additionally, we seek to grow through mergers and acquisitions of banks and the acquisition of lines of business that complement our commercial business banking strategy. 
    
Our two key operating strategies are summarized as follows:
 
Expansion through Organic Growth.  Over the past several years, our highly disciplined business development process has been enhanced through our investment in technology and the customization of our Salesforce platform. This technology enabled business development approach allows our relationship managers the ability to consistently generate business with new and existing clients. Market Presidents with in-depth commercial banking knowledge and expertise systematically manage the business development efforts of their respective teams of relationship managers within specific geographic areas.
Expansion through Acquisitions.  Our acquisition strategy is twofold: first, we seek to acquire whole banks within and contiguous to the State of California to expand geographically and/or to consolidate in our existing markets; and second, we seek to acquire lines of business that we believe will complement our existing business banking strategy. We have completed ten acquisitions since 2010, the first two of which were FDIC-assisted transactions and all other bank transactions were whole bank acquisitions. We intend to continue to pursue acquisitions of banks and other lines of business that complement our commercial banking strategy.

Lending Activities
 
General.  In 2019, we maintained our commitment to a high level of credit quality in our lending activities. Our core lending business continues to focus on meeting the financial needs of local businesses and their owners. To that end, we offer a full complement of flexible and structured loan products tailored to meet the diverse needs of our small and middle market commercial customers.
 
During 2019, we made or purchased loans to borrowers secured by real property and business assets located principally in California, our primary market area, as well as in certain markets in the states of Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington where we also have depository and lending offices. We made select loans, primarily QSR franchise loans, SBA guaranteed loans and loans to HOAs, throughout the United States. We emphasize relationship lending and focus on generating loans with customers who also maintain full depository relationships with us. These efforts assist us in establishing and expanding depository relationships consistent with the Company’s strategic direction. As a California state-chartered commercial bank, we are subject to California Financial Code (the “Financial Code”) section 1481, which establishes the rules that limit the aggregate amount of secured and unsecured loans to a single borrower and its related interests. The eligibility of the personal property or collateral held as security is based on California regulations. We maintain internal lending limits below our $563.4 million legal lending limit for secured loans and $338.0 million legal lending limit for unsecured loans as of December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2019, the Bank’s largest aggregate outstanding balance of loans to one borrower was $126.3 million comprised of $101.5 million and $24.8 million of secured and unsecured credit, respectively.

Historically, we have managed loan concentrations by selling certain loans, primarily commercial non-owner occupied CRE and multi-family residential loan production. We have also focused on selling the guaranteed portion of SBA loans due to the historically attractive premiums in the market, which gains on sales increase our noninterest income. Other types of loan sales remain a strategic option for us.
 

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During 2019, we generated $2.21 billion of new loan commitments and $1.56 billion of new loan fundings, including $531.6 million and $179.8 million of commercial and industrial (“C&I”) loans, respectively, $326.8 million and $267.3 million of franchise loans, respectively, $284.5 million and $279.4 million of owner occupied CRE loans, respectively, $133.1 million and $133.1 million of SBA loans, respectively, $35.3 million and $24.3 million of agribusiness loans, respectively, $384.6 million and $380.4 million of non-owner occupied CRE loans, respectively, $177.0 million and $175.6 million of multi-family real estate loans, respectively, $32.4 million and $26.7 million of one-to-four family real estate loans, respectively, $247.3 million and $42.9 million of construction loans, respectively, $42.4 million and $41.0 million of farmland loans, respectively, $10.8 million and $10.8 million of land loans, respectively, and $5.3 million and $1.8 million of consumer loans. At December 31, 2019, we had $8.73 billion in total gross loans held for investment outstanding.
 
Commercial and Industrial Lending.  We originate C&I loans secured by business assets including inventory, receivables and machinery and equipment to businesses located in our primary market areas. Loan types include revolving lines of credit, term loans, seasonal loans and loans secured by liquid collateral such as cash deposits or marketable securities. HOA credit facilities are included in C&I loans. We also issue letters of credit on behalf of our customers, backed by deposits or other collateral with the Company. At December 31, 2019, C&I loans totaled $1.27 billion, constituting 14.5% of our gross loans held for investment. At December 31, 2019, we had commitments to extend additional credit on C&I loans of $1.10 billion.

Franchise Lending. We originate loans to franchises in the QSR industry nationwide, including financing for equipment, real estate, new store development, remodeling, refinancing, acquisition and partnership restructuring. At December 31, 2019, franchise loans totaled $916.9 million, constituting 10.5% of our gross loans held for investment.
 
Commercial Owner-Occupied Business Lending.  We originate and purchase loans secured by owner-occupied CRE, such as small office and light industrial buildings, and mixed-use commercial properties located in our primary market areas. We also make loans secured by special purpose properties, such as gas stations and churches. Pursuant to our underwriting policies, owner-occupied CRE loans may be made in amounts of up to 80% of the lesser of the appraised value or the purchase price of the collateral property. Loans are generally made for terms up to 25 years with amortization periods up to 25 years. At December 31, 2019, we had $1.67 billion of owner-occupied CRE secured loans, constituting 19.2% of our gross loans held for investment. 
 
SBA Lending.  We are approved to originate loans under the SBA’s Preferred Lenders Program (“PLP”). The PLP lending status affords us a higher level of delegated credit autonomy, translating to a significantly shorter time-line from application to funding, which is critical to our marketing efforts. We originate loans nationwide under the SBA’s 7(a), SBAExpress, International Trade and 504 loan programs, in conformity with SBA underwriting and documentation standards. The guaranteed portion of the 7(a) loans is typically sold on the secondary market. At December 31, 2019, we had $175.8 million of SBA loans, constituting 2.0% of our gross loans held for investment.

Agribusiness and Farmland. We originate loans to the agricultural community to fund seasonal production and longer term investments in land, buildings, equipment, crops and livestock. Agribusiness loans are for the purpose of financing agricultural production, specifically crops and livestock. Farmland loans include all land known to be used or usable for agricultural purposes, such as crop and livestock production, and is secured by the land and improvements thereon. At December 31, 2019, agribusiness loans totaled $127.8 million, constituting 1.4% of our gross loans held for investment. At December 31, 2019, we had $176.0 million of farmland loans, constituting 2.0% of our gross loans held for investment. 
    

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Commercial Non-Owner Occupied Real Estate Lending.  We originate and purchase loans that are secured by CRE, such as retail centers, small office and light industrial buildings, and mixed-use commercial properties located in our primary market areas that are not occupied by the borrower. We also make loans secured by special purpose properties, such as hotels and self-storage facilities. Pursuant to our underwriting practices, non-owner occupied CRE loans may be made in amounts up to 75% of the lesser of the appraised value or the purchase price of the collateral property. We consider the net operating income of the property and typically require a stabilized debt service coverage ratio of at least 1.20:1, based on the qualifying loan interest rate. Loans are generally made for terms from 10 years up to 25 years, with amortization periods up to 25 years. At December 31, 2019, we had $2.07 billion of non-owner occupied CRE secured loans, constituting 23.7% of our gross loans held for investment. 
 
Multi-family Residential Lending.  We originate and purchase loans secured by multi-family residential properties (five units and greater) located in our primary market areas. Pursuant to our underwriting practices, multi-family residential loans may be made in an amount up to 75% of the lesser of the appraised value or the purchase price of the collateral property. In addition, we generally require a stabilized minimum debt service coverage ratio of at least 1.15:1, based on the qualifying loan interest rate. Loans are made for terms of up to 30 years with amortization periods up to 30 years. At December 31, 2019, we had $1.58 billion of multi-family real estate secured loans, constituting 18.1% of our gross loans held for investment. 
 
One-to-Four Family Real Estate Lending.  Although we do not originate traditional consumer single family residential mortgages, we have acquired single family residential mortgages through our bank acquisitions. Our portfolio of one-to-four family loans at December 31, 2019 totaled $254.8 million, constituting 2.9% of our gross loans held for investment, of which $217.4 million consists of loans secured by first liens on real estate and $37.4 million consists of loans secured by second or junior liens on real estate.
 
Construction Lending.  We originate loans for the construction of 1-4 family homes, multi-family residences and CRE properties in our market areas. We concentrate our 1-4 family construction lending on single homes and small infill projects in established neighborhoods where there is not abundant land available for development. Multi-family and commercial construction loans are made to experienced developers for projects with strong market demand. Pursuant to our underwriting practices, construction loans may be made in an amount up to the lesser of 80% of the expected completed value of or 85% of the cost to build the collateral property. Loans are made solely for the term of construction, generally less than 24 months. We require that the owner’s equity is injected prior to the funding of the loan. At December 31, 2019, construction loans totaled $410.1 million, constituting 4.7% of our gross loans, and we had commitments to extend additional construction credit of $247.6 million.
 
Land Loans.  We occasionally originate land loans located in our primary market areas for the purpose of facilitating the ultimate construction of a home or commercial building. We generally do not originate loans to facilitate the holding of land for speculative purposes. At December 31, 2019, land loans totaled $31.1 million, constituting 0.4% of our gross loans.
 
Consumer Loans.  We originate a limited number of consumer loans, generally for existing banking customers, which consist primarily of small balance personal unsecured loans and savings account secured loans. Before we make a consumer loan, we assess the applicant’s ability to repay the loan and, if applicable, the value of the collateral securing the loan. At December 31, 2019, we had $50.9 million in consumer loans, which represented 0.6% of our gross loans.
      

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Sources of Funds
 
General.  Deposits, loan repayments and prepayments, and cash flows generated from operations and borrowings are the primary sources of the Company’s funds for use in lending, investing and other general purposes.
 
Deposits.  Deposits represent our primary source of funds for our lending and investing activities. The Company offers a variety of deposit accounts with a range of interest rates and terms. The deposit accounts are offered through our 41 full depository branch network in California, Arizona, Nevada and Washington, including our Irvine, California branch, which serves our nationwide HOA Banking unit located in Dallas, Texas. The Company’s deposits consist of checking accounts, money market accounts, passbook savings and certificates of deposit. The flow of deposits is influenced significantly by general economic conditions, changes in money market rates, prevailing interest rates and competition. The terms of the fixed-rate certificates of deposit offered by the Company vary from three months to five years. Specific terms of an individual account vary according to the type of account, the minimum balance required, the time period funds must remain on deposit and the interest rate, among other factors. Total deposits at December 31, 2019 were $8.90 billion, compared to $8.66 billion at December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2019, certificates of deposit constituted 11.8% of total deposits, compared to 16.3% at December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2019, we had $949.8 million of certificate of deposit accounts maturing in one year or less.
 
We primarily rely on customer service, sales and marketing efforts, business development, cross selling of deposit products to loan customers and long-standing relationships with customers to attract and retain local deposits. However, market interest rates and rates offered by competing financial institutions significantly affect the Company’s ability to attract and retain deposits. Additionally, from time to time, we will utilize both wholesale and brokered deposits to supplement our generation of deposits from businesses and consumers. At December 31, 2019, we had $88.3 million in brokered deposits that were raised to supplement and diversify our deposit funding and support our interest rate risk management strategies. The brokered deposits had a weighted average maturity of 5 months and an all-in cost of 219 basis points.

Subsidiaries
 
The Bank, a California state-chartered commercial bank, is a wholly-owned, consolidated subsidiary of the Corporation. As of December 31, 2019, the Corporation also has two unconsolidated Delaware statutory trust subsidiaries, Heritage Oaks Capital Trust II and Santa Lucia Bancorp (CA) Capital Trust. Both are used as business trusts for the purpose of issuing junior subordinated debt to third party investors. The junior subordinated debt was issued in connection with the trust preferred securities offerings. These business trusts are described in more detail in “Note 13. Subordinated Debentures” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

Personnel
 
As of December 31, 2019, we had 989 full-time employees and 17 part-time employees. The employees are not represented by a collective bargaining unit, and we consider our relationship with our employees to be satisfactory.
 
Competition
 
We consider our Bank to be a regional bank focused on the commercial banking business, with our primary market encompassing California. To a lesser extent, we also compete in several broader regional and national markets through our HOA Banking, SBA, Franchise Lending and CRE and multi-family lines of business.
 

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The banking business is highly competitive with respect to virtually all products and services. The industry continues to consolidate, and unregulated competitors in the banking markets have focused products targeted at highly profitable customer segments. Many largely unregulated competitors are able to compete across geographic boundaries and provide customers increasing access to meaningful alternatives to nearly all significant banking services and products.
    
The banking business is dominated by a relatively small number of major banks with many offices operating over a wide geographical area. These banks have, among other advantages, the ability to finance wide-ranging and effective advertising campaigns, and to allocate their resources to regions of highest yield and demand. Many of the national or super-regional banks operating in our primary market area offer certain services that we do not offer directly but may offer indirectly through correspondent institutions. By virtue of their greater total capitalization, the national or super-regional banks also have significantly higher lending limits than us.
 
In addition to other local regional banks, our competitors include community, regional and national
commercial banks, savings banks, credit unions and numerous non-banking institutions, such as finance companies, leasing companies, insurance companies, brokerage firms and investment banking firms. Increased competition has also developed from specialized finance and non-finance companies that offer wholesale finance, credit card and other consumer finance services, including on-line banking services and personal financial software. Strong competition for deposit and loan products affects the rates of those products, as well as the terms on which they are offered to customers.

Mergers between financial institutions have placed additional pressure on banks within the industry to streamline their operations, reduce expenses, and increase revenues to remain competitive.
 
Technological innovations have also resulted in increased competition in the financial services market. Such innovation has, for example, made it possible for non-depository institutions to offer customers automated transfer payment services that previously were considered traditional banking products. In addition, many customers now expect a choice of delivery systems and channels, including telephone, mobile phones, mail, home computers, ATMs, self-service branches and/or in-store branches. The sources of competition in such products include commercial banks, as well as credit unions, brokerage firms, money market and other mutual funds, asset management groups, finance and insurance companies, internet-only financial intermediaries and mortgage banking firms. 
We work to anticipate and adapt to competitive conditions, whether developing and marketing innovative products and services, adopting or developing new technologies that differentiate our products and services, or providing highly personalized banking services. We strive to distinguish ourselves from other regional banks and financial services providers in our marketplace by providing a high level of service to enhance customer loyalty and to attract and retain business. However, no assurances can be given that our efforts to compete in our market areas will continue to be successful.
 
Supervision and Regulation
 
General.  Bank holding companies, such as the Corporation, and banks, such as the Bank, are subject to extensive regulation and supervision by federal and state regulators. Various requirements and restrictions under state and federal law affect our operations, including reserves against deposits, ownership of deposit accounts, loans, investments, mergers and acquisitions, borrowings, dividends, locations of branch offices and capital requirements. The following is a summary of certain statutes and rules applicable to us. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the particular statute and regulatory provision referred to below and is not intended to be an exhaustive description of all applicable statutes and regulations.
 
As a bank holding company, the Corporation is subject to regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve. We are required to file with the Federal Reserve quarterly and annual reports and such additional information as the Federal Reserve may require pursuant to the BHCA. The Federal Reserve may conduct examinations of bank holding companies and their subsidiaries. The Corporation is also a bank holding company

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within the meaning of the Financial Code. As such, the Corporation and its subsidiaries are subject to examination by, and may be required to file reports with, the DBO. 
    
Under changes made by the Dodd-Frank Act, a bank holding company must act as a source of financial and managerial strength to each of its subsidiary banks and to commit resources to support each such subsidiary bank. In order to fulfill its obligations as a source of strength, the Federal Reserve may require a bank holding company to make capital injections into a troubled subsidiary bank. In addition, the Federal Reserve may charge the bank holding company with engaging in unsafe and unsound practices if the bank holding company fails to commit resources to a subsidiary bank or if it undertakes actions that the Federal Reserve believes might jeopardize the bank holding company’s ability to commit resources to such subsidiary bank. The Federal Reserve also has the authority to require a bank holding company to terminate any activity or to relinquish control of a nonbank subsidiary (other than a nonbank subsidiary of a bank) upon the Federal Reserve’s determination that such activity or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial soundness and stability of any bank subsidiary of the bank holding company.

The CFPB is granted broad rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement powers under various federal consumer financial protection laws, including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Truth in Lending Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Act, the Consumer Financial Privacy provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and certain other statutes. The CFPB has examination and primary enforcement authority with respect to depository institutions with $10 billion or more in assets, such as the Bank, which is our subsidiary depository institution. The CFPB has authority to prevent unfair, deceptive or abusive practices in connection with the offering of consumer financial products. The CFPB has issued regulatory guidance and has proposed, or will be proposing, regulations on issues that directly relate to our business. Although it is difficult to predict the full extent to which the CFPB’s final rules impact the operations and financial condition of the Bank, such rules may have a material impact on the Bank’s compliance costs, compliance risk and fee income. 

As a California state-chartered commercial bank and member of the Federal Reserve System, the Bank is subject to supervision, periodic examination and regulation by the DBO and the Federal Reserve. The Bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC through the Deposit Insurance Fund (“DIF”). Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, federal deposit insurance coverage was permanently increased to $250,000 per depositor for all insured depository institutions. As a result of this deposit insurance function, the FDIC also has certain supervisory authority and powers over the Bank as well as all other FDIC insured institutions. If, as a result of an examination of the Bank, the regulators should determine that the financial condition, capital resources, asset quality, earnings, management, liquidity or other aspects of the Bank’s operations are unsatisfactory or that the Bank or our management is violating or has violated any law or regulation, various remedies are available to the regulators. Such remedies include the power to enjoin unsafe or unsound practices, to require affirmative action to correct any conditions resulting from any violation or practice, to issue an administrative order that can be judicially enforced, to direct an increase in capital, to restrict growth, to assess civil monetary penalties, to remove officers and directors, and ultimately, request the FDIC terminate the Bank’s deposit insurance. As a California-chartered commercial bank, the Bank is also subject to certain provisions of California law.
 
Legislative and regulatory initiatives, which necessarily impact the regulation of the financial services industry, are introduced from time-to-time. We cannot predict whether or when potential legislation or new regulations will be enacted, and if enacted, the effect that new legislation or any implemented regulations and supervisory policies would have on our financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, bank regulatory agencies can be more aggressive in responding to concerns and trends identified in examinations, which could result in an increased issuance of enforcement actions to financial institutions requiring action to address credit quality, liquidity and risk management and capital adequacy, as well as other safety and soundness concerns.
 

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Dodd-Frank Act
 
The Dodd-Frank Act, which was signed into law in July 2010, implemented far-reaching changes across the financial regulatory landscape, including provisions that, among other things, repealed the federal prohibitions on the payment of interest on demand deposits, thereby permitting depository institutions to pay interest on business transaction and other accounts, and increased the authority of the Federal Reserve to examine bank holding companies, such as the Corporation, and their non-bank subsidiaries.

Many aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act continue to be subject to rulemaking and have yet to take full effect, making it difficult to anticipate the overall financial impact on the Company, its customers or the financial industry generally. Provisions in the legislation that affect deposit insurance assessments, payment of interest on demand deposits and interchange fees could increase the costs associated with deposits as well as place limitations on certain revenues those deposits may generate.

In 2017, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate introduced legislation that would repeal or modify provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and significantly impact financial services regulation. In May 2018, certain provisions of these bills were signed into law as part of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (the “Economic Growth Act”) and repealed or modified significant portions of the Dodd-Frank Act. Specifically, the Economic Growth Act delayed implementation of rules related to the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, reformed and simplified certain Volcker Rule requirements, and raised the threshold for applying enhanced prudential standards to bank holding companies with total consolidated assets equal to or greater than $50 billion to those with total consolidated assets equal to or greater than $250 billion. While recent federal legislation, including the Economic Growth Act, has scaled back portions of the Dodd-Frank Act, uncertainty about the timing and scope of any further potential changes, particularly in the event of an economic downturn, as well as the cost of complying with a new regulatory regime that may arise in the event of an economic downturn, remains.

Activities of Bank Holding Companies.  The activities of bank holding companies are generally limited to the business of banking, managing or controlling banks, and other activities that the Federal Reserve has determined to be so closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto. Bank holding companies that qualify and register as “financial holding companies” are also able to engage in certain additional financial activities, such as merchant banking, and securities and insurance underwriting, subject to limitations set forth in federal law. We are not at this date a “financial holding company.”
 
The BHCA requires a bank holding company to obtain prior approval of the Federal Reserve before: (i) taking any action that causes a bank to become a controlled subsidiary of the bank holding company; (ii) acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of voting shares of any bank or bank holding company, if the acquisition results in the acquiring bank holding company having control of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities of such bank or bank holding company, unless such bank or bank holding company is majority-owned by the acquiring bank holding company before the acquisition; (iii) acquiring all or substantially all the assets of a bank; or (iv) merging or consolidating with another bank holding company.
 
Permissible Activities of the Bank.  Because California permits commercial banks chartered by the state to engage in any activity permissible for national banks, the Bank can form subsidiaries to engage in activates “closely related to banking” or “nonbanking” activities and expanded financial activities. However, to form a financial subsidiary, the Bank must be well capitalized and would be subject to the same capital deduction, risk management and affiliate transaction rules as applicable to national banks. Generally, a financial subsidiary is permitted to engage in activities that are “financial in nature” or incidental thereto, even though they are not permissible for the national bank to conduct directly within the bank. The definition of “financial in nature” includes, among other items, underwriting, dealing in or making a market in securities, including, for example, distributing shares of mutual funds. The subsidiary may not, however, engage as principal in underwriting insurance (other than credit life insurance), issue annuities or engage in real estate development, investment or merchant banking. 
    

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Incentive Compensation.  Federal banking agencies have issued guidance on incentive compensation policies intended to ensure that the incentive compensation policies of banking organizations do not undermine the safety and soundness of such organizations by encouraging excessive risk-taking. The guidance, which covers all employees that have the ability to materially affect the risk profile of an organization, is based upon the key principles that a banking organization’s incentive compensation arrangements should (i) provide incentives that do not encourage risk-taking beyond the organization’s ability to effectively identify and manage risks, (ii) be compatible with effective internal controls and risk management and (iii) be supported by strong corporate governance, including active and effective oversight by the organization’s board of directors. In accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act, the federal banking agencies prohibit incentive-based compensation arrangements that encourage inappropriate risk taking by covered financial institutions (generally institutions that have over $1 billion in assets) and are deemed to be excessive, or that may lead to material losses.
 
The Federal Reserve will review, as part of the regular, risk-focused examination process, the incentive compensation arrangements of banking organizations, such as the Company, that are not “large, complex banking organizations.” These reviews will be tailored to each organization based on the scope and complexity of the organization’s activities and the prevalence of incentive compensation arrangements. The findings of the supervisory initiatives will be included in reports of examination. Deficiencies will be incorporated into the organization’s supervisory ratings, which can affect the organization’s ability to make acquisitions and take other actions. Enforcement actions may be taken against a banking organization if its incentive compensation arrangements, or related risk-management control or governance processes, pose a risk to the organization’s safety and soundness and the organization is not taking prompt and effective measures to correct the deficiencies.
 
The scope and content of the U.S. banking regulators’ policies on executive compensation may continue to evolve in the near future. It cannot be determined at this time whether compliance with such policies will adversely affect the Company’s ability to hire, retain and motivate its key employees.
 
Capital Requirements. Bank holding companies and banks are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by state and federal agencies. These agencies may establish higher minimum requirements if, for example, a banking organization previously has received special attention or has a high susceptibility to interest rate risk. Risk-based capital requirements determine the adequacy of capital based on the risk inherent in various classes of assets and off-balance sheet items. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the Federal Reserve must apply consolidated capital requirements to depository institution holding companies that are no less stringent than those currently applied to depository institutions. The Dodd-Frank Act additionally requires capital requirements to be countercyclical so that the required amount of capital increases in times of economic expansion and decreases in times of economic contraction, consistent with safety and soundness.

Under federal regulations, bank holding companies and banks must meet certain risk-based capital requirements. Effective as of January 1, 2015, the Basel III final capital framework, among other things, (i) introduces as a new capital measure “Common Equity Tier 1” (“CET1”), (ii) specifies that Tier 1 capital consists of CET1 and “Additional Tier 1 capital” instruments meeting specified requirements, (iii) defines CET1 narrowly by requiring that most adjustments to regulatory capital measures be made to CET1 and not to the other components of capital and (iv) expands the scope of the adjustments as compared to existing regulations. Beginning January 1, 2016, financial institutions are required to maintain a minimum capital conservation buffer to avoid restrictions on capital distributions such as dividends and equity repurchases and other payments such as discretionary bonuses to executive officers. The minimum capital conservation buffer has been phased-in over a four year transition period with minimum buffers of 0.625%, 1.25%, 1.875% and 2.50% during 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
    

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As fully phased-in on January 1, 2019, Basel III subjects banks to the following risk-based capital requirements:

a minimum ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, plus a 2.5% “capital conservation buffer”, or 7%;
a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 6.0%, plus the capital conservation buffer, or 8.5%;
a minimum ratio of Total (Tier 1 plus Tier 2) capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.0%, plus the capital conservation buffer, or 10.5%; and
a minimum leverage ratio of 4%, calculated as the ratio of Tier 1 capital to balance sheet exposures plus certain off-balance sheet exposures.

The Basel III final framework provides for a number of deductions from and adjustments to CET1. These include, for example, the requirement that mortgage servicing rights, deferred tax assets dependent upon future taxable income and significant investments in non-consolidated financial entities be deducted from CET1 to the extent that any one such category exceeds 10% of CET1 or all such categories in the aggregate exceed 15% of CET1. Basel III also includes, as part of the definition of CET1 capital, a requirement that banking institutions include the amount of Additional Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”), which primarily consists of unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, which are not required to be treated as other-than-temporary impairment, net of tax) in calculating regulatory capital. Banking institutions had the option to opt out of including AOCI in CET1 capital if they elected to do so in their first regulatory report following January 1, 2015. As permitted by Basel III, the Company and the Bank have elected to exclude AOCI from CET1.

The Dodd-Frank Act excludes trust preferred securities issued after May 19, 2010, from being included in Tier 1 capital, unless the issuing company is a bank holding company with less than $500 million in total assets. Trust preferred securities issued prior to that date will continue to count as Tier 1 capital for bank holding companies with less than $15 billion in total assets, such as the Corporation as of December 31, 2019. The trust preferred securities issued by our unconsolidated subsidiary capital trusts qualify as Tier 1 capital up to a maximum limit of 25% of total Tier 1 capital. Any additional portion of our trust preferred securities would qualify as “Tier 2 capital.”

In addition, goodwill and most intangible assets are deducted from Tier 1 capital. For purposes of applicable total risk-based capital regulatory guidelines, Tier 2 capital (sometimes referred to as “supplementary capital”) is defined to include, subject to limitations: perpetual preferred stock not included in Tier 1 capital, intermediate-term preferred stock and any related surplus, certain hybrid capital instruments, perpetual debt and mandatory convertible debt securities, allowances for loan and lease losses, and intermediate-term subordinated debt instruments. The maximum amount of qualifying Tier 2 capital is 100% of qualifying Tier 1 capital. For purposes of determining total capital under federal guidelines, total capital equals Tier 1 capital, plus qualifying Tier 2 capital, minus investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries, reciprocal holdings of bank holding company capital securities, and deferred tax assets and other deductions.

 We had outstanding subordinated debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $215.1 million. Of this amount, $8.0 million is attributable to subordinated debentures issued to statutory trusts in connection with prior issuances of trust preferred securities, $7.6 million of which qualifies as Tier 1 capital, and $207.2 million is attributable to outstanding subordinated notes, all of which qualifies as Tier 2 capital.


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Basel III changed the manner of calculating risk-weighted assets. New methodologies for determining risk-weighted assets in the general capital rules are included, including revisions to recognition of credit risk mitigation, including a greater recognition of financial collateral and a wider range of eligible guarantors. They also include risk weighting of equity exposures and past due loans; and higher (greater than 100%) risk weighting for certain commercial real estate exposures that have higher credit risk profiles, including higher loan to value and equity components. In particular, loans categorized as “high-volatility commercial real estate” loans (“HVCRE loans”), as defined pursuant to applicable federal regulations, are required to be assigned a 150% risk weighting, and require additional capital support.

In addition to the uniform risk-based capital guidelines and regulatory capital ratios that apply across the industry, the regulators have the discretion to set individual minimum capital requirements for specific institutions at rates significantly above the minimum guidelines and ratios. Future changes in regulations or practices could further reduce the amount of capital recognized for purposes of capital adequacy. Such a change could affect our ability to grow and could restrict the amount of profits, if any, available for the payment of dividends.

In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act requires the federal banking agencies to adopt capital requirements that address the risks that the activities of an institution poses to the institution and the public and private stakeholders, including risks arising from certain enumerated activities.

Basel III became applicable to the Corporation and the Bank on January 1, 2015. Overall, the Corporation believes that implementation of the Basel III Rule has not had and will not have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s or the Bank’s capital ratios, earnings, shareholder’s equity, or its ability to pay dividends, effect stock repurchases or pay discretionary bonuses to executive officers.

In December 2017, the Basel Committee published standards that it described as the finalization of the Basel III post-crisis regulatory reforms (the standards are commonly referred to as “Basel IV”). Among other things, these standards revise the Basel Committee’s standardized approach for credit risk (including recalibrating risk weights and introducing new capital requirements for certain “unconditionally cancellable commitments,” such as unused credit card lines of credit) and provides a new standardized approach for operational risk capital. Under the Basel framework, these standards will generally be effective on January 1, 2022, with an aggregate output floor phasing in through January 1, 2027. Under the current U.S. capital rules, operational risk capital requirements and a capital floor apply only to advanced approaches institutions, and not to the Corporation or the Bank. The impact of Basel IV on us will depend on the manner in which it is implemented by the federal bank regulators.
    
    
In 2018, the federal bank regulatory agencies issued a variety of proposals and made statements concerning regulatory capital standards. These proposals touched on such areas as commercial real estate exposure, credit loss allowances under generally accepted accounting principles and capital requirements for covered swap entities, among others. Public statements by key agency officials have also suggested a revisiting of capital policy and supervisory approaches on a going-forward basis. In July 2019, the federal bank regulators adopted a final rule that simplifies the capital treatment for certain deferred tax assets, mortgage servicing assets, investments in non-consolidated financial entities and minority interests for banking organizations, such as the Corporation and the Bank, that are not subject to the advanced approaches requirements. We will be assessing the impact on us of these new regulations and supervisory approaches as they are proposed and implemented.

On December 21, 2018, federal bank regulatory agencies approved a final rule, effective as of April 1, 2019, to address the upcoming implement of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which introduces the CECL methodology. The final rule modified the regulatory capital rules and provided an option to phase in over a three-year period the initial regulatory capital effects of the CECL methodology upon adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the day-one regulatory capital effects and phase-in option upon the adoption of ASU 2016-13.


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Prompt Corrective Action Regulations. The federal banking regulators are required to take “prompt corrective action” with respect to capital-deficient institutions. Federal banking regulations define, for each capital category, the levels at which institutions are “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” and “critically undercapitalized.” Under regulations effective through December 31, 2019, the Bank was “well capitalized,” which means it had a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.5% or higher; a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or higher; a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or higher; a leverage ratio of 5.0% or higher; and was not subject to any written agreement, order or directive requiring it to maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure.

As noted above, Basel III integrates the capital requirements into the prompt corrective action category definitions. The following capital requirements have applied to the Bank since January 1, 2015.
Capital Category
Total Risk-Based
Capital Ratio
 
Tier 1 Risk-Based
Capital Ratio
 
Common Equity
Tier 1 (CET1) Capital Ratio
 
Leverage Ratio
 
Tangible Equity
to Assets
 
Supplemental
Leverage Ratio
Well Capitalized
10% or greater
 
8% or greater
 
6.5% or greater
 
5% or greater
 
n/a
 
n/a
Adequately Capitalized
8% or greater
 
6% or greater
 
4.5% or greater
 
4% or greater
 
n/a
 
3% or greater
Undercapitalized
Less than 8%
 
Less than 6%
 
Less than 4.5%
 
Less than 4%
 
n/a
 
Less than 3%
Significantly Undercapitalized
Less than 6%
 
Less than 4%
 
Less than 3%
 
Less than 3%
 
n/a
 
n/a
Critically Undercapitalized
n/a
 
n/a
 
n/a
 
n/a
 
Less than 2%
 
n/a
As of December 31, 2019, the Bank was “well capitalized” according to the guidelines as generally discussed above. As of December 31, 2019, the Corporation had a consolidated ratio of 13.81% of total capital to risk-weighted assets, a consolidated ratio of 11.42% of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets and a consolidated ratio of 11.35% of common equity Tier 1 capital, and the Bank had a ratio of 13.83% of total capital to risk-weighted assets, a ratio of 13.43% of common equity Tier 1 capital and a ratio of 13.43% of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets. The Bank exceeded all regulatory capital requirements and exceeded the minimum common equity Tier 1, Tier 1 and total capital ratio inclusive of the fully phased-in capital conservation buffer of 7.0%, 8.5% and 10.5%, respectively.
    
An institution may be downgraded to, or deemed to be in, a capital category that is lower than indicated by its capital ratios if it is determined to be in an unsafe or unsound condition or if it receives an unsatisfactory examination rating with respect to certain matters. An institution’s capital category is determined solely for the purpose of applying prompt corrective action regulations, and the capital category may not constitute an accurate representation of the institution’s overall financial condition or prospects for other purposes.


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In the event an institution becomes “undercapitalized,” it must submit a capital restoration plan. The capital restoration plan will not be accepted by the regulators unless each company having control of the undercapitalized institution guarantees the subsidiary’s compliance with the capital restoration plan up to a certain specified amount. Any such guarantee from a depository institution’s holding company is entitled to a priority of payment in bankruptcy. The aggregate liability of the holding company of an undercapitalized bank is limited to the lesser of 5% of the institution’s assets at the time it became undercapitalized or the amount necessary to cause the institution to be “adequately capitalized.” The bank regulators have greater power in situations where an institution becomes “significantly” or “critically” undercapitalized or fails to submit a capital restoration plan. In addition to requiring undercapitalized institutions to submit a capital restoration plan, bank regulations contain broad restrictions on certain activities of undercapitalized institutions including asset growth, acquisitions, branch establishment and expansion into new lines of business. With certain exceptions, an insured depository institution is prohibited from making capital distributions, including dividends, and is prohibited from paying management fees to control persons if the institution would be undercapitalized after any such distribution or payment.

As an institution’s capital decreases, the regulators’ enforcement powers become more severe. A significantly undercapitalized institution is subject to mandated capital raising activities, restrictions on interest rates paid and transactions with affiliates, removal of management, and other restrictions. A regulator has limited discretion in dealing with a critically undercapitalized institution and is virtually required to appoint a receiver or conservator.

Banks with risk-based capital and leverage ratios below the required minimums may also be subject to certain administrative actions, including the termination of deposit insurance upon notice and hearing, or a temporary suspension of insurance without a hearing in the event the institution has no tangible capital.

In addition to the federal regulatory capital requirements described above, the DBO has authority to take possession of the business and properties of a bank in the event that the tangible stockholders’ equity of a bank is less than the greater of (i) 4% of the bank’s total assets or (ii) $1.0 million.
 
Dividends.  It is the Federal Reserve’s policy that bank holding companies, such as the Corporation, should generally pay dividends on common stock only out of income available over the past year, and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition. It is also the Federal Reserve’s policy that bank holding companies should not maintain dividend levels that undermine their ability to be a source of strength to its banking subsidiaries. Additionally, in consideration of the current financial and economic environment, the Federal Reserve has indicated that bank holding companies should carefully review their dividend policy and has discouraged payment ratios that are at maximum allowable levels unless both asset quality and capital are very strong. Prior to 2019, we never declared or paid dividends on our common stock. In January 2019, we announced the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend. A quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share was declared during each quarter of 2019 for an annual dividend of $0.88 per share. On January 21, 2020, our board of directors increased our quarterly cash dividend by 13.6% to $0.25 per share, payable on February 14, 2020 to shareholders of record on February 3, 2020. The Corporation anticipates that it will continue to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future, although there can be no assurance that payment of such dividends will continue or that they will not be reduced. The payment and amount of future dividends remain within the discretion of the Corporation’s board of directors and will depend on the Corporation’s operating results and financial condition, regulatory limitations, tax considerations and other factors. Interest on deposits will be paid prior to payment of dividends on the Corporation’s common stock.
 

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The Bank’s ability to pay dividends to the Corporation is subject to restrictions set forth in the Financial Code. The Financial Code provides that a bank may not make a cash distribution to its stockholders in excess of the lesser of a bank’s (1) retained earnings; or (2) net income for its last three fiscal years, less the amount of any distributions made by the bank or by any majority-owned subsidiary of the bank to the stockholders of the bank during such period. However, a bank may, with the approval of the DBO, make a distribution to its stockholders in an amount not exceeding the greatest of (a) its retained earnings; (b) its net income for its last fiscal year; or (c) its net income for its current fiscal year. In the event that bank regulators determine that the stockholders’ equity of a bank is inadequate or that the making of a distribution by the bank would be unsafe or unsound, the regulators may order the bank to refrain from making a proposed distribution. The payment of dividends could, depending on the financial condition of a bank, be deemed to constitute an unsafe or unsound practice. Under the foregoing provision of the Financial Code, the amount available for distribution from the Bank to the Corporation was approximately $318.2 million at December 31, 2019.
 
Approval of the Federal Reserve is required for payment of any dividend by a state chartered bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve, such as the Bank, if the total of all dividends declared by the bank in any calendar year would exceed the total of its retained net income for that year combined with its retained net income for the preceding two years. In addition, a state member bank may not pay a dividend in an amount greater than its undivided profits without regulatory and stockholder approval. The Bank is also prohibited under federal law from paying any dividend that would cause it to become undercapitalized.
 
FDIC Insurance of Certain Accounts and Regulation by the FDIC.  The Bank is an FDIC insured financial institution whereby the FDIC provides deposit insurance for a certain maximum dollar amount per customer. The Bank, as is true for all FDIC insured banks, is subject to deposit insurance assessments as determined by the FDIC.
 
Under the FDIC’s risk-based deposit premium assessment system, the assessment rates for an insured depository institution are determined by an assessment rate calculator, which is based on a number of elements that measure the risk each institution poses to the Deposit Insurance Fund. As a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, the calculated assessment rate is applied to average consolidated assets less the average tangible equity of the insured depository institution during the assessment period to determine the dollar amount of the quarterly assessment. Under the current system, premiums are assessed quarterly and could increase if, for example, criticized loans and leases and/or other higher risk assets increase or balance sheet liquidity decreases. In addition, the FDIC can impose special assessments in certain instances. Deposit insurance assessments fund the DIF. In 2010, the FDIC adopted its DIF restoration plan to ensure that the fund reserve ratio reaches 1.35% of total deposits by September 30, 2020, and the FDIC’s final rule with respect to this became effective July 1, 2016. As of September 30, 2018, the DIF reserve ratio reached 1.36%, exceeding the statutorily required minimum reserve ratio of 1.35%. Under FDIC regulations issued pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, all insured depository institutions that were assessed as small institutions at any time during the period from July 1, 2016, through September 30, 2018, were awarded assessment credits for the portion of their assessments that contributed to the growth in the reserve ratio from the former minimum of 1.15% to 1.35%. Prior to July 1, 2019, the Bank was classified as small institution, eligible for assessment credits. Starting the third quarter of 2018, the Bank reported assets of $10 billion or more in its quarterly reports of condition for four consecutive quarters, and was classified as large institution beginning the third quarter of 2019.

Based on the current FDIC insurance assessment methodology, our FDIC insurance premium expense was $764,000 for 2019, $3.0 million for 2018 and $2.2 million in 2017. The decrease in FDIC insurance premium expense was due to small institution assessment credits in 2019. 
    
    

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Transactions with Related Parties.  Depository institutions are subject to the restrictions contained in the Federal Reserve Act (the “FRA”) with respect to loans to directors, executive officers and principal stockholders. Under the FRA, loans to directors, executive officers and stockholders who own more than 10% of a depository institution and certain affiliated entities of any of the foregoing, may not exceed, together with all other outstanding loans to such person and affiliated entities, the institution’s loans-to-one-borrower limit as discussed in the above section. Federal regulations also prohibit loans above amounts prescribed by the appropriate federal banking agency to directors, executive officers, and stockholders who own more than 10% of an institution, and their respective affiliates, unless such loans are approved in advance by a majority of the board of directors of the institution. Any “interested” director may not participate in the voting. The proscribed loan amount, which includes all other outstanding loans to such person, as to which such prior board of director approval is required, is the greater of $25,000 or 5% of capital and surplus up to $500,000. The Federal Reserve also requires that loans to directors, executive officers and principal stockholders be made on terms substantially the same as offered in comparable transactions to non-executive employees of the bank and must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment. There are additional limits on the amount a bank can loan to an executive officer.

Transactions between a bank and its “affiliates” are quantitatively and qualitatively restricted under Sections 23A and 23B of the FRA. Section 23A restricts the aggregate amount of covered transactions with any individual affiliate to 10% of the capital and surplus of the financial institution. The aggregate amount of covered transactions with all affiliates is limited to 20% of the institution’s capital and surplus. Certain transactions with affiliates are required to be secured by collateral in an amount and of a type described in Section 23A and the purchase of low quality assets from affiliates are generally prohibited. Section 23B generally provides that certain transactions with affiliates, including loans and asset purchases, must be on terms and under circumstances, including credit standards, that are substantially the same or at least as favorable to the institution as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with non-affiliated companies. The Federal Reserve has promulgated Regulation W, which codifies prior interpretations under Sections 23A and 23B of the FRA and provides interpretive guidance with respect to affiliate transactions. Affiliates of a bank include, among other entities, a bank’s holding company and companies that are under common control with the bank. The Corporation is considered to be an affiliate of the Bank.
 
The Dodd-Frank Act generally enhanced the restrictions on transactions with affiliates under Section 23A and 23B of the FRA, including an expansion of the definition of “covered transactions” and an increase in the amount of time for which collateral requirements regarding covered credit transactions must be satisfied. Insider transaction limitations are expanded through the strengthening of loan restrictions to insiders and the expansion of the types of transactions subject to the various limits, including derivatives transactions, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements and securities lending or borrowing transactions. Restrictions are also placed on certain asset sales to and from an insider to an institution, including requirements that such sales be on market terms and, in certain circumstances, approved by the institution’s board of directors.
 
Safety and Soundness Standards.  The federal banking agencies have adopted guidelines designed to assist the federal banking agencies in identifying and addressing potential safety and soundness concerns before capital becomes impaired. The guidelines set forth operational and managerial standards relating to: (i) internal controls, information systems and internal audit systems; (ii) loan documentation; (iii) credit underwriting; (iv) asset growth; (v) earnings; and (vi) compensation, fees and benefits.
 
In addition, the federal banking agencies have also adopted safety and soundness guidelines with respect to asset quality and for evaluating and monitoring earnings to ensure that earnings are sufficient for the maintenance of adequate capital and reserves. These guidelines provide six standards for establishing and maintaining a system to identify problem assets and prevent those assets from deteriorating. Under these standards, an insured depository institution should: (i) conduct periodic asset quality reviews to identify problem assets; (ii) estimate the inherent losses in problem assets and establish reserves that are sufficient to absorb estimated losses; (iii) compare problem asset totals to capital; (iv) take appropriate corrective action to resolve problem assets; (v) consider the size and potential risks of material asset concentrations; and (vi) provide periodic asset quality reports with adequate information for management and the board of directors to assess the level of asset risk. 

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Loans to One Borrower.  Under California law, our ability to make aggregate secured and unsecured loans to one borrower is limited to 25% and 15%, respectively, of unimpaired capital and surplus. At December 31, 2019, the Bank’s limit on aggregate secured loans to one borrower was $563.4 million and unsecured loans to one borrower was $338.0 million. The Bank has established internal loan limits, which are lower than the legal lending limits for a California bank. 
    
Community Reinvestment Act and the Fair Lending Laws.  The Bank is subject to laws and regulations that govern fair lending. Among these are the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Housing Act, Unruh Civil Rights Act, California Holden Act and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. To manage the potential risks of noncompliance the Bank has adopted policies, procedures, training and monitoring to ensure on-going compliance. Additionally, the Bank is subject to the regulatory requirements and reporting related to the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”). Federal banking regulators evaluate the record of a financial institution in meeting the credit needs of their local communities, including low and moderate income neighborhoods. A bank’s compliance with its CRA obligations is based on a performance-based evaluation system, which bases CRA ratings on an institution’s lending, service and investment performance, resulting in a rating by the appropriate bank regulator of “outstanding,” “satisfactory,” “needs to improve” or “substantial noncompliance.” Based on its last CRA examination in May 2018, the Bank received an “outstanding” rating. The federal banking agencies may take compliance with fair lending laws and CRA into account when regulating and supervising other activities. 
 
Bank Secrecy Act and Money Laundering Control Act.  In 1970, Congress passed the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act, otherwise known as the Bank Secrecy Act (the “BSA”), which established requirements for recordkeeping and reporting by banks and other financial institutions. The BSA was designed to help identify the source, volume and movement of currency and other monetary instruments into and out of the U.S. in order to help detect and prevent money laundering connected with drug trafficking, terrorism and other criminal activities. The primary tool used to implement BSA requirements is the filing of Suspicious Activity Reports. Today, the BSA requires that all banking institutions develop and provide for the continued administration of a program reasonably designed to assure and monitor compliance with certain recordkeeping and reporting requirements regarding both domestic and international currency transactions. These programs must, at a minimum, provide for a system of internal controls to assure ongoing compliance, provide for independent testing of such systems and compliance, designate individuals responsible for such compliance and provide appropriate personnel training.
 
USA Patriot Act.  Under the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, commonly referred to as the USA Patriot Act or the Patriot Act, financial institutions are subject to prohibitions against specified financial transactions and account relationships, as well as enhanced due diligence standards intended to detect, and prevent, the use of the United States financial system for money laundering and terrorist financing activities. The Patriot Act requires financial institutions, including banks, to establish anti-money laundering programs, including employee training and independent audit requirements, meet minimum standards specified by the act, follow minimum standards for customer identification and maintenance of customer identification records, and regularly compare customer lists against lists of suspected terrorists, terrorist organizations and money launderers. The costs or other effects of the compliance burdens imposed by the Patriot Act or future anti-terrorist, homeland security or anti-money laundering legislation or regulation cannot be predicted with certainty.
    

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Consumer Laws and Regulations.  The Bank is also subject to certain consumer laws and regulations that are designed to protect consumers in transactions with banks. These laws include, among others: Truth in Lending Act; Truth in Savings Act; Electronic Funds Transfer Act; Expedited Funds Availability Act; Equal Credit Opportunity Act; Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act; Fair Housing Act; Fair Credit Reporting Act; Fair Debt Collection Act; Home Mortgage Disclosure Act; Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act; laws regarding unfair and deceptive acts and practices; and usury laws. These laws and regulations mandate certain disclosure requirements and regulate the manner in which financial institutions must deal with customers when taking deposits or making loans to such customers. The Bank must comply with the applicable provisions of these consumer protection laws and regulations as part of their ongoing customer relations. Many states and local jurisdictions have consumer protection laws analogous, and in addition, to those listed above. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could give rise to regulatory sanctions, customer rescission rights, action by state and local attorneys general, and civil or criminal liability. 
    
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFPB has broad authority to regulate and supervise the retail consumer financial products and services activities of banks and various non-bank providers. The CFPB has authority to promulgate regulations, issue orders, guidance and policy statements, conduct examinations and bring enforcement actions with regard to consumer financial products and services. With assets exceeding $10 billion at December 31, 2019, the Bank is subject to examination for consumer compliance by the CFPB. The creation of the CFPB by the Dodd-Frank Act has led to, and is likely to continue to lead to, enhanced and strengthened enforcement of consumer financial protection laws.
 
Federal law currently contains extensive customer privacy protection provisions. Under these provisions, a financial institution must provide to its customers, at the inception of the customer relationship and annually thereafter, the institution’s policies and procedures regarding the handling of customers’ nonpublic personal financial information. These provisions also provide that, except for certain limited exceptions, a financial institution may not provide such personal information to unaffiliated third parties unless the institution discloses to the customer that such information may be so provided and the customer is given the opportunity to opt out of such disclosure. In June 2018, the California legislature passed the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (the “California Privacy Act”), which took effect on January 1, 2020. The California Privacy Act, which covers businesses that obtain or access personal information on California resident consumers, grants consumers enhanced privacy rights and control over their personal information and imposes significant requirements on covered companies with respect to consumer data privacy rights. We expect this trend of state-level activity to continue, and are continually monitoring developments in other states in which we operate.
 
Federal and State Taxation
 
The Corporation and the Bank report their income on a consolidated basis using the accrual method of accounting, and are subject to federal and state income taxation in the same manner as other corporations with some exceptions. For 2019 and 2018, the Company was subject to a maximum federal income tax rate of 21.00%, and 35.00% for 2017. State income tax rates the Company is subject to varies, based on jurisdiction. The highest state income tax rate the Company is subject to is 10.84%, which is attributable to California. The Company has not been audited by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).

    

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ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS
 
Ownership of our common stock involves certain risks. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as all other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially, adversely affected.
 
Risks Related to Our Business
 
The economic environment could pose significant challenges for the Company and could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
 
Our financial condition and results of operations are dependent on the U.S. economy, generally, and markets we serve, specifically. We primarily serve markets in California, though certain of our products and services are offered nationwide. Although the U.S. economy continues to expand, the duration and magnitude of its expansion is uncertain. Financial stress on borrowers as a result of an uncertain future economic environment could have an adverse effect on the Company’s borrowers and their ability to repay their loans, which could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. A weakening of these conditions in the markets in which we operate would likely have an adverse effect on us and others in the financial institutions industry. For example, deterioration in economic conditions in our markets could drive losses beyond that which is provided for in our financial statements. Additionally, on January 1, 2020, we were required to implement the provisions of ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which changes the way we estimate credit losses by replacing the incurred loss model used to determine the allowance for loan losses (“ALLL”) with the current expected credit losses model. The CECL model requires the Company to estimate and provide for expected future credit losses over the lives of financial assets, such as loans, and also requires the Company to incorporate the use of reasonable and supportable forecasts when estimating credit losses. As such, adverse changes in economic conditions or expected economic conditions may require the Company provide for a significantly greater allowance for credit losses (“ACL”). We may also face the following risks in connection with these events: 
economic conditions that negatively affect real estate values and the job market may result, in the deterioration of the credit quality of our loan portfolio, and such deterioration in credit quality could have a negative impact on our business;
a decrease in the demand for loans and other products and services offered by us;
a decrease in deposit balances, including low-cost and non-interest bearing deposits, due to overall reductions in the accounts of customers;
a decrease in the value of our loans or other assets secured by commercial or residential real estate;
a decrease in net interest income derived from our lending and deposit gathering activities;
sustained weakness in our markets may affect consumer confidence levels and may cause adverse changes in payment patterns, causing increases in delinquencies and default rates on loans and other credit facilities;
the processes we use to estimate ALLL (and ACL under the CECL methodology beginning on January 1, 2020) and reserves may no longer be reliable because they rely on complex judgments, including forecasts of economic conditions, which may no longer be capable of accurate estimation; and
our ability to assess the creditworthiness of our customers may be impaired if the methodologies and approaches we use become less effective in controlling charge-offs.

As these conditions or similar ones exist or worsen, we could experience adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations. 

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Adverse economic conditions in California may cause us to suffer higher default rates on our loans and reduce the value of the assets we hold as collateral.
 
Our business activities and credit exposure are concentrated in California. Difficult economic conditions in California may cause us to incur losses associated with higher default rates and decreased collateral values in our loan portfolio. In addition, demand for our products and services may decline. Declines in the California real estate market could hurt our business, because the majority of our loans are secured by real estate located within California. As of December 31, 2019, approximately 58% of the aggregate outstanding principal of our loans was secured by real estate were located in California. If real estate values were to decline in California, the collateral for our loans would provide less security. As a result, our ability to recover on defaulted loans by selling the underlying real estate would be diminished, and we would be more likely to suffer losses on defaulted loans.

Changes in U.S trade policies and other factors beyond the Company’s control may adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Following the U.S. presidential election in 2016, there have been changes to U.S. trade policies, legislation, treaties and tariffs, including trade policies and tariffs affecting China and retaliatory tariffs by China. Tariffs, retaliatory tariffs or other trade restrictions on products and materials that our customers import or export, including among others, agricultural and technological products, could cause the prices of our customers’ products to increase which could reduce demand for such products, or reduce our customer margins, and adversely impact their revenues, financial results and ability to service debt; this, in turn, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, to the extent changes in the political environment have a negative impact on us or on the markets in which we operate, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely impacted in the future. A trade war or other governmental action related to tariffs or international trade agreements or policies has the potential to negatively impact our and our customers’ costs, demand for our customers’ products, and the U.S. economy or certain sectors thereof and, thus, adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may suffer losses in our loan portfolio in excess of losses previously provided for.
 
Our total nonperforming assets amounted to $9.1 million, or 0.08% of our total assets, at December 31, 2019, an increase from $5.0 million or 0.04% at December 31, 2018. We had $7.5 million of net loan charge-offs for 2019, an increase from $1.0 million in 2018. Our provision for loan losses was $7.1 million in 2019, a decrease from $8.2 million in 2018. If increases in our nonperforming assets occur in the future, our net loan charge-offs and/or provision for loan losses may also increase which may have an adverse effect upon our future results of operations and capital.
 
We seek to mitigate the risks inherent in our loan portfolio by adhering to specific underwriting practices. These practices generally include analysis of a borrower’s prior credit history, available cash flow (determined using financial statements and tax returns) and cash flow projections, valuation of collateral based on reports of independent appraisers and liquid asset verifications. Although we believe that our underwriting criteria are appropriate for the various kinds of loans we make, we may incur losses on loans that meet our underwriting criteria but subsequently deteriorate, and these losses may exceed the amounts set aside as reserves in our ALLL (and ACL under the CECL methodology beginning on January 1, 2020). Our ALLL is based on analysis of the following:
 
historical experience with our loans;
industry historical losses as reported by the FDIC;
internal credit risk grades of loans in our loan portfolio;
evaluation of current economic conditions;
regular reviews of the quality, mix and size of our loan portfolio;

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regular reviews of delinquencies;
the quality of the collateral underlying our loans; and
the effect of external factors, such as competition, legal developments and regulatory requirements.

As previously mentioned, on January 1, 2020, we changed the way we estimate credit losses by replacing the incurred loss model used to determine the allowance for loan losses, or ALLL, with the current expected credit losses, or CECL, model. The CECL model not only incorporates certain facets of the incurred loss ALLL model, as listed above, but also incorporates the use of and is more reliant on reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions, including, but not limited to: forecasts of GDP growth rates, levels of unemployment, vacancy rates, and changes in the value of commercial real estate properties.

Based on our loan portfolio at December 31, 2019 and management’s current expectation of future economic conditions, and certain qualitative adjustments, which we are currently working to refine, the Company believes its cumulative effect adjustment, resulting from the adoption of the CECL model, will result in a pre-tax increase in the ALLL by an amount within a range of $50 million and $60 million. As economic conditions change, the Company may be required to provide for significantly higher credit losses and may experience volatility in the provision for credit losses.

Although we maintain an ALLL at a level that we believe is adequate to absorb probable incurred losses inherent in our loan portfolio (and future expected credit losses under the CECL model, beginning January 1, 2020), changes in economic, operating and other conditions, including a sharp decline in real estate values and changes in interest rates, which are beyond our control, may cause our actual loan losses to exceed our current allowance estimates, which will adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
 
In addition, the Federal Reserve and the DBO, as part of their supervisory function, periodically review our credit loss reserves. Either agency may require us to increase our provision for loan losses or to recognize further loan losses, based on their judgments, which may be different from those of our management and could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
    
Risks related to specific segments of our loan portfolio may result in losses that could affect our results of operations and financial condition.

General economic conditions and local economic conditions, changes in governmental rules, regulations and fiscal policies, and increases in interest rates and tax rates affect our entire loan portfolio. In addition, lending risks vary by the type of loan extended.

In our C&I and SBA lending activities, collectability of loans may be adversely affected by risks generally related to small and middle market businesses, such as:

changes or weaknesses in specific industry segments, including weakness affecting the business’ customer base;
changes in consumer behavior and a business’s personnel;
increases in supplier costs and operating costs that cannot be passed along to customers; and
changes in competition.

In our investor real estate and construction loans, payment performance and the liquidation values of collateral properties may be adversely affected by risks generally incidental to interests in real property (for investor real estate and CRE construction loans) or risks generally related to consumers (for single family residence construction loans), such as:

declines in real estate values, rental rates and occupancy rates;
increases in other operating expenses (including energy costs);

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demand for the type of property or high-end home in question; and
the availability of property financing.
In our owner-occupied CRE lending activities, probability of default may be adversely affected by the risks described above for C&I and SBA lending, while loss given defaults may be adversely affected by the risks described above affecting collateral value for investor real estate.

In our HOA and consumer loans, collectability of the loans may be adversely affected by risks generally related to consumers, such as:

changes in consumer behavior and changes or weakness in employment and wage income;
declines in real estate values or rental rates;
increases in association operating expenses; and
the availability of property financing.

In our agribusiness and farmland loans, collectability of the loans may be adversely affected by risks generally related to agriculture production and farmlands, such as:

the cyclical nature of the agriculture industry;
fluctuating commodity prices;
changing climatic conditions, including drought conditions, which adversely impact agricultural customers’ operating costs, crop yields and crop quality and could impact such customers’ ability to repay loans;
the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs or other trade restrictions on agricultural products and materials that our clients import or export; and
increases in operating expenses and changes in real estate values.

Our level of credit risk could increase due to our focus on commercial lending and the concentration on small and middle market business customers, who can have heightened vulnerability to economic conditions.
 
As of December 31, 2019, our commercial real estate loans amounted to $3.86 billion, or 44.2% of our total loan portfolio, and our commercial business loans amounted to $4.16 billion, or 47.6% of our total loan portfolio. At such date, our largest outstanding C&I loan was $63.9 million, our largest multiple borrower relationship was $126.3 million and our largest outstanding CRE loan was $94.1 million. CRE and commercial business loans are generally considered riskier than single-family residential loans because they have larger balances to a single borrower or group of related borrowers. CRE and commercial business loans involve risks because the borrowers’ ability to repay the loans typically depends primarily on the successful operation of the businesses or the properties securing the loans. Most of the Company’s commercial business loans are made to small or middle market business customers who may have a heightened vulnerability to economic conditions. Moreover, a portion of these borrowers may not have experienced a complete business or economic cycle. Furthermore, the deterioration of our borrowers’ businesses may hinder their ability to repay their loans with us, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
 

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Nonperforming assets take significant time to resolve and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
 
Nonperforming assets adversely affect our net income in various ways. We generally do not record interest income on nonperforming loans or other real estate owned (“OREO”), which adversely affects our income. When we take collateral in foreclosures and similar proceedings, we are required to mark the related asset to the then fair market value of the collateral, which may ultimately result in a loss. An increase in the level of nonperforming assets increases our risk profile and may impact the capital levels our regulators believe are appropriate in light of the ensuing risk profile. While we reduce problem assets through loan sales, workouts, restructurings and otherwise, decreases in the value of the underlying collateral, or in these borrowers’ performance or financial condition, whether or not due to economic and market conditions beyond our control, could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the resolution of nonperforming assets requires significant commitments of time from management and our directors, which can be detrimental to the performance of their other responsibilities. There can be no assurance that we will not experience future increases in nonperforming assets.

Security breaches and other disruptions, whether in our systems or those of our contracted partners, could compromise our information and expose us to liability, which would cause our business and reputation to suffer.

In the ordinary course of our business, we collect and store sensitive data, including our proprietary business information and personally identifiable information of our customers and employees in our data centers and on our networks. The secure maintenance and transmission of this information is critical to our operations. Although we devote significant resources to maintain and regularly update our systems and processes that are designed to protect the security of our computer systems, software, networks and other technology assets, as well as the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information belonging to us and our customers, there is no assurance that all of our security measures will provide absolute security.     
Despite our security measures, our information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or breached due to employee error, malfeasance or other disruptions. Like many financial institutions, we can be subject to attempts to infiltrate the security of our websites or other systems which can involve sophisticated and targeted attacks intended to obtain unauthorized access to confidential information, destroy data, disrupt service, sabotage systems or cause other damage, including through the introduction of computer viruses or malware, cyberattacks and other means. We can be targeted by individuals and groups using malicious code and viruses, and can be exposed to distributed denial-of-service attacks with the objective of disrupting on-line banking services.
Despite efforts to ensure the security and integrity of our systems, it is possible that we may not be able to anticipate, detect or recognize threats to our systems or to implement effective preventive measures against all security breaches of these types inside or outside our business, especially because the techniques used frequently are not recognized until launched, and because cyberattacks can originate from a wide variety of sources, including individuals or groups who are or may be involved in organized crime, hostile foreign governments or linked to terrorist organizations. These risks may increase in the future as our web-based product offerings grow or we expand internal usage of web-based applications.
In addition, we outsource a significant portion of our data processing to certain third-party providers. If any of these third-party providers encounters difficulties, or if we have difficulty communicating with them, our ability to adequately process and account for transactions could be affected, and our business operations could be adversely affected. Threats to information security also exist in the processing of customer information through various other vendors and their personnel. We do not have direct control over the systems of these vendors and third-party providers and, were they to suffer a breach, our sensitive data, including customer information, could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost or stolen.

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A successful penetration or circumvention of the security of our systems or the systems of another market participant, our vendors or third party providers, which we refer to generally as a data breach, could cause serious negative consequences, including significant disruption of our operations, misappropriation of confidential information, or damage to computers or systems, and may result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws (including, but not limited to, the California Privacy Act), financial loss, loss of confidence, customer dissatisfaction, significant litigation exposure and harm to our reputation, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and future prospects.
 
Any such data breach could compromise our networks and the information stored there could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost or stolen. Any such access, disclosure or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, including regulatory mandates specific to the financial services industry, and regulatory penalties, disrupt our operations and the services we provide to customers, damage our reputation, and cause a loss of confidence in our products and services, which could adversely affect our business, revenues and competitive position.

There is potential of an account takeover of any of our clients’ accounts, whereby a hacker could illegally use malware on a client’s computer or other device to gain access to the client’s bank accounts and other information. Although such attacks are focused on the client, not the bank, a successful account take over attack can lead to fraudulent bank transactions that we may not catch in time.

We devote significant resources to protecting our and our customers’ information. To the extent that the expenses associated with these and future protective measures increase, our non-interest expenses may increase overall, which could adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, we maintain cyber risk insurance coverage in amounts that we believe are reasonable based upon the scope of our activities. However, this insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover all of our losses from future data breaches of our systems or the systems of another market participant or our vendors or third party providers. If our cyber risk insurance is insufficient with respect to covering all of the losses resulting from any such future data breach, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Changes in accounting policies, standards and interpretations could materially affect how the Company reports its financial condition and results of operations.

From time to time, the FASB and the SEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of the Company’s financial statements. These changes can materially impact how the Company records and reports its financial condition and results of operations.
In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The ASU replaces the incurred loss impairment model in current United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) with a model that reflects current expected credit losses. The CECL model will apply to most debt instruments, including loan receivables, loan commitments and held-to-maturity debt securities. The FASB has issued additional ASUs since, including 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326 - Credit Losses, Topic 815 - Derivatives and Hedging and Topic 825 - Financial Instruments; ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326):Targeted Transition Relief; and ASU 2019-11, Codification Improvements to Topic 326. Each update serves to clarify certain aspects of the CECL model.
Under the CECL model, the Company will recognize an impairment allowance equal to its current estimate of future expected credit losses over the life of financial assets, such as loans and debt securities, as of the end of the reporting period. Measuring future expected credit losses will likely be a significant challenge for all entities, including the Company.

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The ACL measured under a CECL model could differ materially from the ALLL measured under the Company’s incurred loss model. To initially apply the CECL amendments, for most debt instruments, the Company will record a cumulative-effect adjustment to its statement of financial condition as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective (a modified retrospective approach). The amendments in ASU 2016-13 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The implementation of CECL may require us to increase our loan loss allowance, may decrease our reported income, and may introduce additional volatility into our reported earnings.
Additionally, the CECL model changes how the Company accounts for certain financial assets, such as loans and debt securities, acquired in a business combination or other purchase, that have not experienced a more-than-insignificant amount of deterioration in credit quality since their origination (“non-credit deteriorated financial assets”). Under the CECL model, the Company is required to estimate and record an ACL for future expected credit losses over the life of non-credit deteriorated financial assets on the date of acquisition through a charge to provision for credit losses. As a result, the implementation of CECL may require us to recognize significant provisions for credit losses in connection with a business combination or other purchase of certain financial assets.
On December 21, 2018, federal bank regulatory agencies approved a final rule, effective as of April 1, 2019, modifying their regulatory capital rules and providing an option to phase in over a three-year period the initial regulatory capital effects of the CECL methodology. The Company is currently evaluating the day-one regulatory capital effects and phase-in option upon the adoption of ASU 2016-13.

On January 1, 2019, the Company was required to adopt the provisions of ASC Topic 842, Leases, which changed the way we account for leases by requiring previously unrecorded off-balance sheet lease obligations and corresponding rights to use underlying leased assets to be recorded in the consolidated financial statements. As a result of the adoption of ASC Topic 842, the Company may be required to recognize additional right-of-use assets and liabilities for the obligations to make future lease payments when entering into future lease agreements or when assuming lease obligations through the acquisition of other financial institutions.

Changes in monetary policy may have a material effect on our results of operations.
 
Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest we receive on loans and securities and the amount of interest we pay on deposits and borrowings, but also our ability to originate loans and deposits. Historically, there has been an inverse correlation between the demand for loans and interest rates. Loan origination volume usually declines during periods of rising or high interest rates and increases during periods of declining or low interest rates. Changes in interest rates also have a significant impact on the carrying value of certain of our assets, including loans, real estate and investment securities, on our balance sheet. We may incur debt in the future and that debt may also be sensitive to interest rates.

Further, federal monetary policy significantly affects credit conditions for us, as well as for our borrowers, particularly as implemented by the Federal Reserve, primarily through open market operations in U.S. government securities, the federal funds rate target, the discount rate for bank borrowings and reserve requirements. A material change in any of these conditions could have a material impact on us or our borrowers, and therefore on our results of operations.

Interest rate changes, increases or decreases, which are out of our control, could harm profitability.
 
Our profitability depends to a large extent upon net interest income, which is the difference between interest income and dividends we earn on interest-earning assets, such as loans and investments, and interest expense we pay on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings. Any change in general market interest rates, whether as a result of changes in the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve or otherwise, may have a significant effect on net interest income and prepayments on our loans.


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During the third and fourth quarters of 2019, in response to changing economic conditions, the Federal Reserve Board’s Open Market Committee reduced its federal funds rate target from a range of 2.25% - 2.50%, that was in effect through August 2019, to the current target range of 1.50% - 1.75%, that was in effect since October 31, 2019. Moreover, since December 2015, the Federal Reserve has removed reserves from the banking system, which also puts upward pressure on market rates of interest. In addition, the prohibition restricting depository institutions from paying interest on demand deposits, such as checking accounts, was repealed as part of the Dodd-Frank Act.
    
Our assets and liabilities may react differently to changes in overall interest rates or conditions. In general, higher interest rates are associated with a lower volume of loan originations while lower interest rates are usually associated with higher loan originations. Further, if interest rates decline, our loans may be refinanced at lower rates or paid off and our investments may be prepaid earlier than expected. If that occurs, we may have to redeploy the loan or investment proceeds into lower yielding assets, which might also decrease our income. Also, as many of our loans currently have interest rate floors, a rise in rates may increase the cost of our deposits while the rates on the loans remain at their floors, which could decrease our net interest income. Accordingly, changes in levels of market interest rates could materially and adversely affect our financial condition, loan origination volumes, net interest margin, results of operations and profitability.

The Company’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates is low in a rising interest rate environment based on the current profile of the Company’s loan portfolio and low-cost and no-cost deposits. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Management of Market Risk.” At December 31, 2019, we had $586.0 million in interest-bearing demand deposits. In addition, at December 31, 2019, we had $3.41 billion in money market and savings deposits. If the interest rates on our loans increase comparably faster than the interest rate on our interest- bearing demand deposits, money market and savings deposits, our core deposit balances may decrease as customers use those funds to repay higher cost loans. In addition, if we need to offer additional interest-bearing demand deposit products or higher interest rates on our current interest-bearing demand, money market or savings deposit accounts in order to maintain current customers or attract new customers, our interest expense will increase, perhaps materially. Furthermore, if we fail to offer competitive rates sufficient to retain these accounts, our core deposits may be reduced, which would require us to seek alternative funding sources or risk slowing our future asset growth. In these circumstances, our net interest income may decrease, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

As interest rates rise, our existing borrowers who have adjustable rate loans may see their loan payments increase and, as a result, may experience difficulty repaying those loans, which in turn could lead to higher losses for us. Increasing delinquencies, non-accrual loans and defaults lead to higher loan loss provisions, and potentially greater eventual losses that would lower our current profitability and capital ratios.   

Conditions in the financial markets may limit our access to additional funding to meet our liquidity needs.
 
Liquidity is essential to our business, as we must maintain sufficient funds to respond to the needs of depositors and borrowers. An inability to raise funds through deposits, repurchase agreements, federal funds purchased, FHLB advances, the sale or pledging as collateral of loans and other assets could have a substantial negative effect on our liquidity. Our access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance our activities, or on terms attractive to us, could be impaired by factors that affect us specifically or the financial services industry in general. Factors that could negatively affect our access to liquidity sources include a reduction in our credit ratings, if any, an increase in costs of capital in financial capital markets, negative operating results, a decrease in the level of our business activity due to a market downturn, a decrease in depositor or investor confidence or adverse regulatory action against us. Our ability to borrow could also be impaired by factors that are not specific to us, such as severe disruption of the financial markets or negative news and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry as a whole.


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Our ability to obtain funding from the FHLB or through its overnight federal funds lines with other banks could be negatively affected if we experienced a substantial deterioration in the Company’s financial condition or if such funding became restricted due to deterioration in the financial markets. While the Company has a contingency funds management plan to address such a situation if it were to occur (such plan includes deposit promotions, the sale of securities and the curtailment of loan growth, if necessary), a significant decrease in our ability to borrow funds could adversely affect our liquidity.

As a commercial banking institution, we compete with our market peers in, among other things, attracting, maintaining and increasing customer deposits. We are currently part of a highly competitive local deposit market, in which our competitors are offering ever increasing deposit rates in order to attract new deposits. Given our large proportion of non-maturity deposits, we could experience significant and acute deposit outflows if our offered deposit rates do not remain competitive in our primary market. Such outflows could adversely affect our liquidity.

Further, depending on these competitive factors and the interest rate environment, lower cost deposits may need to be replaced with higher cost funding, resulting in a decrease in net interest income and net income. While these events could have a material impact on our results, we expect, in the ordinary course of business, that these deposits will fluctuate and believe the Company is capable of mitigating this risk, as well as the risk of losing one of these depositors, through additional liquidity, and business generation in the future. However, should a significant number of these customers leave the Bank, it could have a material adverse impact on the Bank and the Company.

The financial condition of other financial institutions could negatively affect us.
 
Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty, or other relationships. We have exposure to many different industries and counterparties, and we routinely execute transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including commercial banks, brokers and dealers, investment banks and other institutional customers. Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk in the event of a default by a counterparty or customer. In addition, our credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held by us cannot be realized upon or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the credit or derivative exposure due to us. Any such losses could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We are dependent on our key personnel.
 
Our future operating results depend in large part on the continued services of our key personnel, including Steven R. Gardner, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, who developed and implemented our business strategy. The loss of Mr. Gardner could have a negative impact on the success of our business strategy. In addition, we rely upon the services of Edward Wilcox, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank, and Ronald Nicolas, Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation and the Bank, and our ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel. We may not be able to continue to attract and retain the qualified personnel necessary for the successful development of our business. The unexpected loss of services of our key personnel could have a material adverse impact on our business because of their skills, knowledge of our market, years of industry experience and the difficulty of promptly finding qualified replacement personnel. In addition, recent regulatory proposals and guidance relating to compensation may negatively impact our ability to retain and attract skilled personnel.

    
    

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Our controls, processes and procedures may fail or be circumvented.
 
Management regularly reviews and updates our internal controls over financial reporting, disclosure processes and procedures, compliance monitoring activities and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure or circumvention of our controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, reputation and financial condition and/or result in materially inaccurate reported financial statements. In addition, if we identify material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting, it would necessitate remedial measures that may increase our compliance costs, divert management attention from our business or subject us to regulatory actions and increased regulatory scrutiny. Further, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and potentially subject us to litigation

A natural disaster or recurring energy shortage, especially in California, could harm our business.
 
We are based in Irvine, California and, at December 31, 2019, approximately 58% of the aggregate outstanding principal of our loans was tied to businesses or secured by real estate located in California. In addition, the computer systems that operate our Internet websites and some of their back-up systems are located in Irvine, California. Historically, California has been vulnerable to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, wildfires, floods and mudslides. Certain of these natural disasters may be exacerbated by changing climate conditions. Natural disasters could harm our operations directly through interference with communications, including the interruption or loss of our information technology structure and websites, which could prevent us from gathering deposits, originating loans and processing and controlling our flow of business, as well as through the destruction of facilities and our operational, financial and management information systems. Although we have implemented several back-up systems and protections (and maintain business interruption insurance), these measures may not protect us fully from the effects of a natural disaster. A natural disaster or recurring power outages may also impair the value of our largest class of assets, our loan portfolio. Uninsured or underinsured disasters may reduce borrowers’ ability to repay mortgage loans. Disasters or recurring power outages may diminish the profitability of our business borrowers and reduce their ability to repay business loans. Disasters may also reduce the value of the real estate securing our loans, impairing our ability to recover on defaulted loans through foreclosure and making it more likely that we would suffer losses on defaulted loans. California has also experienced energy and water shortages, which, if they recur, could impair the value of the real estate in those areas affected. The occurrence of natural disasters or energy shortages in California could have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

Environmental liabilities with respect to properties on which we take title may have a material effect on our results of operations.
 
Although we perform limited environmental due diligence in conjunction with originating loans secured by properties we believe have environmental risk, such diligence may not reflect all current risks or threats, and unforeseen or unpredictable future events may cause a change in the environmental risk profile of a property after a loan has been made. Consequently, we could be subject to environmental liabilities on real estate properties we foreclose upon and take title to in the normal course of our business. In connection with environmental contamination, we may be held liable to governmental entities or to third parties for property damage, personal injury, investigation and clean-up costs incurred by these parties, or we may be required to investigate or clean-up hazardous or toxic substances at a property. The investigation or remediation costs associated with such activities could be substantial. Furthermore, we may be subject to common law claims by third parties based on damages and costs resulting from environmental contamination even if we were the former owner of a contaminated site. The incurrence of a significant environmental liability could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

32


We may be unable to successfully compete with financial services companies and other companies that offer banking services.
 
We face direct competition from a significant number of financial institutions, many with a state-wide or regional presence, and in some cases, a national presence, in both originating loans and attracting deposits. Competition in originating loans comes primarily from other banks and finance companies, and more recently, financial technology (or “fintech”) companies, that make loans in our primary market areas. In addition banks with larger capitalizations and non-bank financial institutions that are not governed by bank regulatory restrictions have larger lending limits and are better able to serve the needs of larger customers. Many of these financial institutions are also significantly larger than us, have greater financial resources than we have, have established customer bases and name recognition. We compete for loans principally on the basis of interest rates and loan fees, the types of loans we offer and the quality of service that we provide to our borrowers. We also face substantial competition in attracting deposits from other banking institutions, money market and mutual funds, credit unions and other investment vehicles. Our ability to attract and retain deposits requires that we provide customers with competitive investment opportunities with respect to rate of return, liquidity, risk and other factors. To effectively compete, we may have to pay higher rates of interest to attract deposits, resulting in reduced profitability. In addition, we rely upon local promotional activities, personal relationships established by our officers, directors and employees and specialized services tailored to meet the individual needs of our customers in order to compete. If we are not able to effectively compete in our market area, our profitability may be negatively affected.
 
Our ability to attract and maintain customer and investor relationships depends largely on our reputation.
 
Damage to our reputation could undermine the confidence of our current and potential customers and investors in our ability to provide high-quality financial services. Such damage could also impair the confidence of our counterparties and vendors and ultimately affect our ability to effect transactions. Maintenance of our reputation depends not only on our success in maintaining our service-focused culture and controlling and mitigating the various risks described in this report, but also on our success in identifying and appropriately addressing issues that may arise in areas such as potential conflicts of interest, anti-money laundering, customer personal information and privacy issues, customer and other third-party fraud, record-keeping, technology-related issues including but not limited to cyber fraud, regulatory investigations, unethical practices, employee mistakes, misconduct or fraud, and any litigation that may arise from the failure or perceived failure to comply with legal and regulatory requirements. We have policies and procedures in place to protect our reputation and promote ethical conduct, but these policies and procedures may not be fully effective. Negative publicity regarding our business, employees, or customers, with or without merit, may result in the loss of customers, investors and employees, costly litigation, a decline in revenues and increased governmental scrutiny and regulation. Maintaining our reputation also depends on our ability to successfully prevent third parties from infringing on our brands and associated trademarks and our other intellectual property. Defense of our reputation, trademarks and other intellectual property, including through litigation, could result in costs that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

We are subject to extensive regulation, which could adversely affect our business.
 
Our operations are subject to extensive regulation by federal, state and local governmental authorities and are subject to various laws and judicial and administrative decisions imposing requirements and restrictions on part or all of our operations. Federal and state banking regulators have significant discretion and authority to prevent or remedy unsafe or unsound practices or violations of laws or regulations by financial institutions and bank holding companies in the performance of their supervisory and enforcement duties. The exercise of regulatory authority may have a negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, in order to conduct certain activities, including acquisitions, we are required to obtain regulatory approval. There can be no assurance that any required approvals can be obtained, or obtained without conditions or on a timeframe acceptable to us.    

33


Because our business is highly regulated, the laws, rules and regulations applicable to us are subject to regular modification and change. Regulations affecting banks and other financial institutions, such as the Dodd-Frank Act, are continuously reviewed and change frequently. For instance, the Dodd-Frank Act has changed the bank regulatory framework, created an independent consumer protection bureau that has assumed the consumer protection responsibilities of the various federal banking agencies, and established more stringent capital standards for banks and bank holding companies. The ultimate effect of such changes cannot be predicted. Compliance with such regulations and laws may increase our costs and limit our ability to pursue business opportunities. There can be no assurance that laws, rules and regulations will not be proposed or adopted in the future, which could (i) make compliance much more difficult or expensive, (ii) restrict our ability to originate, modify, broker or sell loans or accept certain deposits, (iii) restrict our ability to collect on defaulted loans or foreclose on property securing loans, (iv) further limit or restrict the amount of commissions, interest or other charges earned on loans originated or sold by us, or (v) otherwise materially and adversely affect our business or prospects for business. These risks could affect our deposit funding and the performance and value of our loan and investment securities portfolios, which could negatively affect our financial performance and financial condition.

While recent federal legislation has scaled back portions of the Dodd-Frank Act and the current administration in the United States may further roll back or modify certain of the regulations adopted since the financial crisis, including those adopted under the Dodd-Frank Act, uncertainty about the timing and scope of any such changes as well as the cost of complying with a new regulatory regime, may negatively impact our business, at least in the short-term, even if the long-term impact of any such changes are positive for our business.

We are subject to heightened regulatory requirements as our total assets exceed $10 billion.
 
With the acquisition of Grandpoint capital Inc. (“Grandpoint”) on July 1, 2018, our total assets exceeded $10 billion during the quarter ended September 30, 2018. The Dodd-Frank Act and its implementing regulations impose various additional requirements on bank holding companies with $10 billion or more in total assets, including a more frequent and enhanced regulatory examination regime. In addition, banks, including ours, with $10 billion or more in total assets are primarily examined by the CFPB with respect to various federal consumer financial protection laws and regulations, with the Federal Reserve maintaining supervision over some consumer related regulations. Previously, the Federal Reserve has been primarily responsible for examining our Bank’s compliance with consumer protection laws. As a relatively new agency with evolving regulations and practices, there is some uncertainty as to how the CFPB examination and regulatory authority might impact our business.

One key Dodd-Frank Act requirement applicable to banks with $10 billion or more in total assets has been compulsory stress testing (Dodd-Frank Act Stress Test or “DFAST”). The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law on May 24, 2018, increased the asset threshold at which company-run stress tests are required from $10 billion to $250 billion. The elimination of DFAST has not eliminated the expectation of the regulatory agencies that we will conduct enhanced capital stress testing. However, standards establishing the framework surrounding such expectations have not been announced. The unknown nature and extent of future stress testing requirements creates uncertainty with respect to the impact of those requirements on our business.

Since July 1, 2019, we became subject to reduced interchange income, which has resulted in reduced revenues. Debit card interchange fee restrictions set forth in the Dodd-Frank Act, which is known as the Durbin Amendment, as implemented by regulations of the Federal Reserve, cap the maximum debit interchange fee that a bank debit card issuer with $10 billion or more in total assets may receive per transaction at the sum of $0.21 plus five basis points. A debit card issuer that adopts certain fraud prevention procedures may charge an additional $0.01 per transaction. Based on current debit card volume, we have experienced a reduction of approximately $1.4 million in debit card related fee income and pre-tax earnings following the application of the Durbin Amendment to the Company beginning July 1, 2019.


34


Compliance with stress testing requirements may necessitate that we hire additional compliance or other personnel, design and implement additional internal controls, or incur other significant expenses, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations
    
Federal and state regulatory agencies periodically conduct examinations of our business, including compliance with laws and regulations, and our failure to comply with any supervisory actions to which we are or become subject as a result of such examinations may adversely affect us.
 
Federal and state regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve, the DBO, and the CFPB periodically conduct examinations of our business, including compliance with laws and regulations. If, as a result of an examination, a regulatory agency were to determine that the financial condition, capital resources, asset quality, earnings prospects, management, liquidity or other aspects of any of our operations had become unsatisfactory, or that the Company or its management was in violation of any law or regulation, it may take a number of different remedial actions as it deems appropriate. These actions include the power to enjoin “unsafe or unsound” practices, to require affirmative actions to correct any conditions resulting from any violation or practice, to issue an administrative order that can be judicially enforced, to direct an increase in our capital, to restrict our growth, to assess civil monetary penalties against the Bank or our officers or directors, to remove officers and directors and, if it is concluded that such conditions cannot be corrected or there is an imminent risk of loss to depositors, to terminate our deposit insurance. If we become subject to such regulatory actions, our business, results of operations and reputation may be negatively impacted.  

Acquisitions may disrupt our business.
 
We have consummated ten acquisitions since 2010. Most recently, on July 1, 2018, we completed the acquisition of Grandpoint, the holding company of Grandpoint Bank, a California state-chartered bank with $3.2 billion in total assets. On January 31, 2020, we entered into a definitive agreement with Opus, pursuant to which we will acquire Opus, a California-chartered state bank with $8.0 billion in total assets. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020, subject to the receipt all required regulatory and stockholder approvals and the satisfaction or waiver, if applicable, of all closing conditions.

The success of the Opus acquisition or any future acquisition we may consummate will depend on, among other things, our ability to realize the anticipated revenue enhancements and efficiencies and to combine our business with the business of the target institution in a manner that does not materially disrupt the existing customer relationships of either institution, or result in decreased revenues resulting from any loss of customers, and that permits growth opportunities to occur. If we are not able to successfully achieve these objectives, the anticipated benefits of the subject acquisition, including the Opus acquisition, may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected.

It is possible that the integration process associated with any pending or future acquisition could result in the loss of key employees, the disruption of ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies that adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with clients, customers, depositors and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions. Integration efforts could also divert management attention and resources. These integration matters could have an adverse effect on the combined company.


35


Acquisitions may dilute stockholder value.
 
The acquisition of Opus will be an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.0 billion as of the date of signing. The consideration payable to Opus shareholders upon consummation of the acquisition will consist of whole shares of the Corporation’s common stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of the Corporation’s common stock. We anticipate issuing approximately 34.7 million shares of common stock to Opus shareholders in connection with the acquisition, and we anticipate that the transaction will result in initial tangible book value dilution of 2.8%, or $0.53 per share at the time of closing with an earnback period of 1.8 years.

Future mergers or acquisitions, if any, may involve cash, debt or equity securities as transaction consideration. Acquisitions typically involve the payment of a premium over book and market values, and, therefore, some dilution of our stock’s tangible book value and net income per common share may occur in connection with any future transaction. We cannot say with any certainty that we will be able to consummate, or if consummated, successfully integrate the Opus acquisition or any future acquisition, or that we will not incur disruptions or unexpected expenses in integrating such acquisitions. Furthermore, failure to realize the expected revenue increases, cost savings, increases in geographic or product presence, and/or other projected benefits from pending or future acquisitions could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in the value of goodwill and intangible assets could reduce our earnings.

When the Company acquires a business, a substantial portion of the purchase price of the acquisition is allocated to goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets. The amount of the purchase price, which is allocated to goodwill and other intangible assets is determined by the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had approximately $891.6 million of goodwill and intangible assets, which includes goodwill of approximately $808.3 million resulting from the acquisitions the Company has consummated since 2011. The Company accounts for goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which, in general, requires that goodwill not be amortized, but rather be tested for impairment at least annually at the reporting unit level. In testing for impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, the Company first performs a qualitative assessment of goodwill and intangible assets, which considers the impact that various relevant economic, industry, market and company specific factors may have on the value of the Company. The Company’s qualitative assessment considers known positive and negative as well as any mitigating events and circumstances associated with each relevant factor that may be deemed to have an impact on the value of the Company. Should the Company’s qualitative assessment indicate the value of goodwill and intangible assets could be impaired, a quantitative assessment is then performed to determine if there is impairment. This assessment involves determining the fair value of the reporting unit (which in our case is the Company) and comparing that determination of fair value to the carrying value of the Company in order to quantify the amount of possible impairment. The estimation of fair values involves a high degree of judgment and subjectivity in the assumptions used. Changes in the local and national economy, the federal and state legislative and regulatory environments for financial institutions, the stock market, interest rates and other external factors (such as natural disasters or significant world events) may occur from time to time, often with great unpredictability, and may materially impact the fair value of publicly traded financial institutions and result in an impairment charge at a future date. If we were to conclude that a future write-down of our goodwill or intangible assets is necessary, we would record the appropriate charge, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
 

36


Changes in the fair value of our investment securities may reduce our stockholders’ equity and net income.
 
At December 31, 2019, $1.37 billion of our securities were classified as available-for-sale with an aggregate net unrealized gain of $30.1 million. We increase or decrease stockholders’ equity by the amount of change from the unrealized gain or loss (the difference between the estimated fair value and the amortized cost) of our available-for-sale securities portfolio, net of the related tax, under the category of accumulated other comprehensive income/loss. Therefore, a decline in the estimated fair value of this portfolio will result in a decline in reported stockholders’ equity, as well as book value per common share and tangible book value per common share. This decrease will occur even though the securities are not sold. In the case of debt securities, if these securities are never sold and there are no credit impairments, the decrease will be recovered over the life of the securities. In the case of equity securities, which have no stated maturity, the declines in fair value may or may not be recovered over time.

At December 31, 2019, we had stock holdings in the FHLB of San Francisco totaling $17.3 million, $51.7 million in FRB stock, and $24.1 million in other stock, all carried at cost. The stock held by us is subject to recoverability testing under applicable accounting standards. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we did not recognize an impairment charge related to our stock holdings. There can be no assurance that future negative changes to the financial condition of the issuers may require us to recognize an impairment charge with respect to such stock holdings.
    
Increased regulatory oversight and uncertainty relating to the LIBOR calculation process and potential phasing out of LIBOR after 2021 may adversely affect the results of our operations.
 
On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates the LIBOR, announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. The announcement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. It is impossible to predict whether and to what extent banks will continue to provide LIBOR submissions to the administrator of LIBOR, whether LIBOR rates will cease to be published or supported before or after 2021 or whether any additional reforms to LIBOR may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. Efforts in the United States to identify a set of alternative U.S. dollar reference interest rates include proposals by the Alternative Reference Rates Committee of the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Uncertainty as to the nature of alternative reference rates and as to potential changes in other reforms to LIBOR may adversely affect LIBOR rates and the value of LIBOR-based loans, and to a lesser extent securities in our portfolio, and may impact the availability and cost of hedging instruments and borrowings, including the rates we pay on our subordinated debentures and trust preferred securities. If LIBOR rates are no longer available or do not remain an acceptable market benchmark, any successor or replacement interest rates may perform differently, which may adversely affect our revenue or our expenses. We may incur significant costs to transition both our borrowing arrangements and the loan agreements with our customers from LIBOR, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations. Further, we may face exposure to litigation over the nature and performance of any replacement index. The impact of alternatives to LIBOR on the valuations, pricing and operation of our financial instruments is not yet known.


37


Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
 
The price of our common stock, like many of our peers, has fluctuated significantly over the recent past and may fluctuate significantly in the future, which may make it difficult for you to resell your shares of common stock at times or at prices you find attractive.
 
Stock price volatility may make it difficult for holders of our common stock to resell their common stock when desired and at desirable prices. Our stock price can fluctuate significantly in response to a variety of factors including, among other things:
 
Inaccurate management decisions regarding the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired which could materially affect our financial condition;
Natural disasters, fires, and severe weather;
Internal controls may fail;
Reliance on other companies to provide key components of our business processes;
Meeting capital adequacy standards and the need to raise additional capital in the future if needed, including through future sales of our common stock;
Actual or anticipated variations in quarterly results of operations;
Recommendations by securities analysts;
Failure of securities analysts to cover, or continue to cover, us;
Operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us;
News reports relating to trends, concerns and other issues in the financial services industry, including the failures of other financial institutions in the current economic downturn;
Perceptions in the marketplace regarding us and/or our competitors;
Departure of our management team or other key personnel;
Cyber security breaches of the company or contracted partners;
New technology used, or services offered, by competitors;
Significant acquisitions or business combinations, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments by or involving us or our competitors;
Failure to integrate acquisitions or realize anticipated benefits from acquisitions;
Existing or increased regulatory and compliance requirements, changes or proposed changes in laws or regulations, or differing interpretations thereof affecting our business, or enforcement of these laws and regulations;
Litigation and governmental investigations;
Changes in government regulations; and
Geopolitical and public health conditions such as acts or threats of terrorism, military conflicts and pandemics.

General market fluctuations, industry factors and general economic and political conditions and events, such as economic slowdowns or recessions, interest rate changes or credit loss trends, could also cause our stock price to decrease regardless of operating results as evidenced by the current volatility and disruption of capital and credit markets. 


38


The primary source of the Company’s liquidity from which, among other things, dividends to shareholders may be paid is the receipt of dividends from the Bank.
 
We recently initiated the paying of a quarterly cash dividend on our common stock. Our ability to pay cash dividends to our shareholders is dependent upon receiving dividends from the Bank. The Bank’s ability to pay dividends to us is subject to restrictions set forth in the Financial Code. The Financial Code provides that a bank may not make a cash distribution to its stockholders in excess of the lesser of (1) a bank’s retained earnings and (2) a bank’s net income for its last three fiscal years, less the amount of any distributions made by the bank or by any majority-owned subsidiary of the bank to the shareholders of the bank during such period. However, a bank may, with the approval of the DBO, make a distribution to its stockholders in an amount not exceeding the greatest of (a) its retained earnings; (b) its net income for its last fiscal year; or (c) its net income for its current fiscal year. In the event that banking regulators determine that the stockholders’ equity of a bank is inadequate or that the making of a distribution by the bank would be unsafe or unsound, the regulators may order the bank to refrain from making a proposed distribution.

Approval of the Federal Reserve is required for payment of any dividend by a state chartered bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System, such as the Bank, if the total of all dividends declared by the Bank in any calendar year would exceed the total of its retained net income for that year combined with its retained net income for the preceding two years. In addition, a state member bank may not pay a dividend in an amount greater than its undivided profits without regulatory and stockholder approval. The Bank is also prohibited under federal law from paying any dividend that would cause it to become undercapitalized. A reduction or discontinuance of dividends from the Bank to the Corporation could have an adverse effect on our ability to pay dividends on our common stock, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, including the market price of our common stock.

We may reduce or discontinue the payment of dividends on common stock.
 
Our shareholders are only entitled to receive such dividends as our Board may declare out of funds legally available for such payments. Although we have only recently begun to declare cash dividends on our common stock, we are not required to do so and may reduce or eliminate our common stock dividend in the future. Our ability to pay dividends to our stockholders is subject to the restrictions set forth in Delaware law, by the Federal Reserve, and by certain covenants contained in our subordinated debentures. Notification to the Federal Reserve is also required prior to our declaring and paying a cash dividend to our shareholders during any period in which our quarterly and/or cumulative twelve-month net earnings are insufficient to fund the dividend amount, among other requirements. We may not pay a dividend if the Federal Reserve objects or until such time as we receive approval from the Federal Reserve or we no longer need to provide notice under applicable regulations. In addition, we may be restricted by applicable law or regulation or actions taken by our regulators, now or in the future, from paying dividends to our shareholders. We cannot provide assurance that we will continue paying dividends on our common stock at current levels or at all. A reduction or discontinuance of dividends on our common stock could have a material adverse effect on our business, including the market price of our common stock.

ITEM 1B.  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
 
None.
 

39


ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES
The Company’s headquarters is located in Irvine, California at 17901 Von Karman Avenue. As of December 31, 2019, our properties included 18 administrative offices and 41 branches. We owned 10 properties and leased the remaining properties throughout Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, California as well as Pima and Maricopa Counties, Arizona, Clark County, Nevada and Clark County, Washington. The lease terms are not individually material and range from month-to-month to ten years from inception date.
All of our existing facilities are considered to be adequate for our present and anticipated future use. In the opinion of management, all properties are adequately covered by insurance.
For additional information regarding properties of the Company, see Note 7. Premises and Equipment of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary.”
    
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is not involved in any material pending legal proceedings other than legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that none of these legal proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse impact on the results of operations or financial condition of the Company.
  
ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
 
Not applicable.
 

40


PART II
  
ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
Shareholder Information
 
The common stock of the Corporation has been publicly traded since 1997 and is currently traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol PPBI. As of February 21, 2020, there were approximately 928 holders of record of our common stock.

Equity Compensation Plan Information
 
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2019, with respect to options outstanding and shares available for future option, restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards under the Company’s active equity incentive plans.

Plan Category
 
Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights
 
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders:
 
 
 
 
 
Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. 2004 Long-term Incentive Plan
 
3,000

 
$
6.30

 

 
Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. Amended and Restated 2012 Stock Long-term Incentive Plan
 
576,821

 
15.85

 
2,879,949

 
Heritage Oaks Bancorp, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan
 
25,677

 
18.61

 

 
Heritage Oaks Bancorp, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan
 
24,961

 
21.63

 
655,429

(3) 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
 

 

 

 
Total equity compensation plans
 
630,459

(1) 
$
16.26

(2) 
3,535,378

(4) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Consists of 453,104 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and 177,355 shares issuable in settlement of outstanding RSUs and dividend equivalent rights. Excludes 562,363 outstanding shares of unvested restricted stock (these do not constitutes “rights” under SEC rules).
(2) The weighted-average exercise price includes all outstanding stock options but does not include restricted stock units, all of which do not have an exercise price. If restricted stock units were included in this calculation, treating such awards as having an exercise price of zero, the weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights would be $11.69.
(3) Represents shares of Company common stock available for issuance under the Heritage Oaks Bancorp (“HEOP”) 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”), which was assumed by the Company in its acquisition of HEOP effective as of April 1, 2017 and adjusted by subsequent forfeiture and shares withheld to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any restricted stock award.
(4) Consists of common stock remaining available for awards under our Amended and Restated 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan and the HEOP 2015 Plan.

41


Stock Performance Graph  

The graph below compares the performance of our common stock with that of the NASDAQ Composite Index (U.S. companies) and the NASDAQ Bank Stocks Index from December 31, 2014 through December 31, 2019. The graph is based on an investment of $100 in our common stock at its closing price on December 31, 2014.

Total Return to Stockholders
(Assumes $100 investment on 12/31/2014)
chart-c8c7823066e7529aa9d.jpg
Total Return Analysis
 
12/31/2014
 
12/31/2015
 
12/30/2016
 
12/29/2017
 
12/31/2018
 
12/31/2019
Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.
 
$
100.00

 
$
122.62

 
$
203.98

 
$
230.81

 
$
147.26

 
$
188.11

NASDAQ Composite Index
 
100.00

 
105.73

 
113.66

 
145.76

 
140.1

 
188.89

NASDAQ Bank Stocks Index
 
100.00

 
106.62

 
143.97

 
149.02

 
122.35

 
148.24

 

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Dividends
 
In January 2019, we announced the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend. A quarterly dividend of
$0.22 per share was declared during each quarter of 2019 for an annual dividend of $0.88 per share. On January 21, 2020, the Corporation’s board of directors increased our quarterly cash dividend by 13.6% to $0.25 per share, payable on February 14, 2020 to shareholders of record on February 3, 2020. The Corporation anticipates continuing a regular quarterly cash dividend. However, we have no obligation to pay dividends and we may change our dividend policy at any time without notice to our shareholders. Any future determination to pay dividends to holders of our common stock will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements, banking regulations, contractual restrictions and any other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.

The Corporation’s ability to pay dividends on its common stock is dependent on the Bank’s ability to pay dividends to the Corporation. Various statutes restrict the amount of dividends that the Bank can pay without regulatory approval. For information on the statutory and regulatory limitations on the ability of the Corporation to pay dividends to its stockholders and on the Bank to pay dividends to the Corporation, see “Item 1. Business-Supervision and Regulation—Dividends” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity.”

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On December 2, 2019, the Corporation’s board of directors approved a new stock repurchase program, which authorized the Corporation to repurchase up to $100 million of its common stock. As of December 31, 2019, the Corporation did not repurchase any shares under the newly-approved stock repurchase program. The stock repurchase program may be limited or terminated at any time without prior notice. In connection with the prior stock repurchase program approved in October 2018, which concluded in the third quarter of 2019, the Corporation purchased an aggregate of 3,364,761 shares of its common stock for aggregate cash consideration of $100 million, or $29.69 per share.

The following table provides information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of us or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act) of our common stock during the fourth quarter of 2019.

Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
 
Average Price Paid Per Share
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
 
Maximum Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
October 1, 2019 to October 31, 2019
 

 

 

 
$

November 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019
 

 

 

 

December 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019
 

 

 

 
100,000,000

Total
 

 
 
 

 
 



43


ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
The following table sets forth certain of our consolidated financial and statistical information at or for each of the years presented. This data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included herein at Item 7 and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included herein at Item 8.
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Operating Data
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
$
526,107

 
$
448,423

 
$
270,005

 
$
166,605

 
$
118,356

Interest expense
78,806

 
55,712

 
22,503

 
13,530

 
12,057

Net interest income
447,301

 
392,711

 
247,502

 
153,075

 
106,299

Provision for credit losses
5,719

 
8,253

 
8,432

 
9,296

 
6,631

Net interest income after provision for credit losses
441,582

 
384,458

 
239,070

 
143,779

 
99,668

Net gains from loan sales
6,642

 
10,759

 
12,468

 
9,539

 
7,970

Other noninterest income
28,594

 
20,268

 
18,646

 
10,063

 
6,418

Noninterest expense
259,065

 
249,905

 
167,958

 
98,063

 
73,332

Income before income tax
217,753

 
165,580

 
102,226

 
65,318

 
40,724

Income tax
58,035

 
42,240

 
42,126

 
25,215

 
15,209

Net income
$
159,718

 
$
123,340

 
$
60,100

 
$
40,103

 
$
25,515

Share Data
 
Earnings per share:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
$
2.62

 
$
2.29

 
$
1.59

 
$
1.49

 
$
1.21

Diluted
2.60

 
2.26

 
1.56

 
1.46

 
1.19

Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
60,339,714

 
53,963,047

 
37,705,556

 
26,931,634

 
21,156,668

Diluted
60,692,281

 
54,613,057

 
38,511,261

 
27,439,159

 
21,488,698

Book value per share (basic)
$
33.82

 
$
31.52

 
$
26.86

 
$
16.54

 
$
13.86

Book value per share (diluted)
33.69

 
31.38

 
26.73

 
16.78

 
13.78

Dividends declared per share
0.88

 

 

 

 

Dividend payout ratio (1)
33.59
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
Selected Balance Sheet Data
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Total assets
$
11,776,012

 
$
11,487,387

 
$
8,024,501

 
$
4,036,311

 
$
2,789,599

Securities, FHLB, FRB and other stock
1,499,283

 
1,243,350

 
871,601

 
426,832

 
312,207

Loans held for sale, net
1,672

 
5,719

 
23,426

 
7,711

 
8,565

Loans held for investment, net
8,686,613

 
8,800,746

 
6,167,288

 
3,220,317

 
2,236,998

Allowance for loan losses
35,698

 
36,072

 
28,936

 
21,296

 
17,317

Total deposits
8,898,509

 
8,658,351

 
6,085,886

 
3,145,581

 
2,195,123

Total borrowings
732,171

 
777,994

 
641,410

 
397,354

 
265,388

Total stockholders’ equity
2,012,594

 
1,969,697

 
1,241,996

 
459,740

 
298,980

Performance Ratios
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Return on average assets
1.38
%
 
1.26
%
 
0.99
%
 
1.11
%
 
0.97
%
Return on average equity
8.00

 
7.71

 
6.75

 
9.30

 
9.31

Average equity to average assets
17.29

 
16.33

 
14.62

 
11.97

 
10.45

Equity to total assets at end of period
17.09

 
17.15

 
15.48

 
11.39

 
10.72

Average interest rate spread
3.75

 
4.00

 
4.18

 
4.22

 
4.01

Net interest margin
4.33

 
4.44

 
4.43

 
4.48

 
4.25

Efficiency ratio (2)
50.8

 
51.6

 
51.0

 
53.6

 
55.9

Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities
176.89

 
169.84

 
164.66

 
166.42

 
149.17

Pacific Premier Bank Capital Ratios
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Tier 1 leverage ratio
12.39
%
 
11.06
%
 
11.59
%
 
10.94
%
 
11.41
%
Common equity tier 1 to risk-weighted assets
13.43

 
11.87

 
11.77

 
11.65

 
12.35

Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
13.43

 
11.87

 
11.77

 
11.65

 
12.35

Total capital to risk-weighted assets
13.83

 
12.28

 
12.22

 
12.29

 
13.07

Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. Capital Ratios
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Tier 1 leverage ratio
10.54
%
 
10.38
%
 
10.61
%
 
9.78
%
 
9.52
%
Common equity tier 1 to risk-weighted assets
11.35

 
10.88

 
10.48

 
10.12

 
9.91

Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
11.42

 
11.13

 
10.78

 
10.41

 
10.28

Total capital to risk-weighted assets
13.81

 
12.39

 
12.46

 
12.72

 
13.43

Asset Quality Ratios
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Nonperforming loans as a percent of loans held for investment
0.10
%
 
0.05
%
 
0.05
%
 
0.04
%
 
0.18
%
Nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets
0.08

 
0.04

 
0.04

 
0.04

 
0.18

Net charge-offs to average total loans, net
0.09

 
0.01

 
0.02

 
0.17

 
0.06

Allowance for loan losses to loans held for investment
0.41

 
0.41

 
0.47

 
0.66

 
0.77

Allowance for loan losses as a percent of nonperforming loans
413

 
743

 
881

 
1,866

 
436

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Dividend payout ratio is defined as dividends declared per share divided by basic earnings per share.
(2) Represents the ratio of noninterest expense less other real estate owned operations, core deposit intangible amortization and merger related expense to the sum of net interest income before provision for credit losses and total noninterest income less gains/(loss) on sale of securities, other-than-temporary impairment recovery/(loss) on investment securities, gain on acquisitions, gain/(loss) from other real estate owned and gain/(loss) from other real estate owned and gain/(loss) from debt extinguishment.

44


ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is intended to provide a better understanding of the significant changes in trends relating to the Company’s financial condition, results of operation, liquidity and capital resources. This section should be read in conjunction with the disclosures regarding “Forward-Looking Statements” set forth in “Item I. Business-Forward Looking Statements”, as well as the discussion set forth in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” including the notes to consolidated financial statements.

Proposed Acquisition of Opus
    
On February 3, 2020, the Corporation announced that, on January 31, 2020, the Corporation and the Bank entered into a definitive agreement with Opus to acquire Opus in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.0 billion, or $26.82 per share, based on a closing price for the Corporation’s common stock of $29.80 as of January 31, 2020. Opus is headquartered in Irvine, California with $8.0 billion in total assets, $5.9 billion in gross loans and $6.5 billion in total deposits as of December 31, 2019.

The consideration payable to Opus shareholders upon consummation of the acquisition will consist of whole shares of the Corporation’s common stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of the Corporation’s common stock. Upon consummation of the transaction, (i) each share of Opus common stock, no par value per share, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the acquisition will be canceled and exchanged for the right to receive 0.9000 shares of the Corporation’s common stock, and (ii) each share of Opus Series A non-cumulative, non-voting preferred stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the acquisition will be converted into and canceled in exchange for the right to receive that number of shares of the Corporation’s common stock equal to the product of (X) the number of shares of Opus common stock into which such share of Opus preferred stock is convertible in connection with, and as a result of, the acquisition, and (Y) 0.9000, in each case, plus cash in lieu of fractional shares of the Corporation’s common stock. Existing Pacific Premier shareholders will own approximately 63% of the outstanding shares of the combined company, and Opus shareholders are expected to own approximately 37%.

The proposed transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and shareholder approval from the Corporation’s and Opus’s shareholders. Opus directors who own shares of Opus common stock, certain executive officers and shareholders, who own in the aggregate approximately 19% of the outstanding shares of Opus common stock and approximately 98% of the outstanding shares of Opus preferred stock, have entered into agreements with the Corporation, the Bank and Opus pursuant to which they have committed to vote their shares of Opus common stock and Opus preferred stock in favor of the acquisition. For additional information about the proposed acquisition of Opus, see the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 6, 2020 and the definitive agreement.


45


Summary
 
Our principal business is attracting deposits from small and middle market businesses and consumers and investing those deposits, together with funds generated from operations and borrowings, primarily in commercial business loans and various types of commercial real estate loans. The Company expects to fund substantially all of the loans that it originates or purchases through deposits, FHLB advances and other borrowings and internally generated funds. Deposit flows and cost of funds are influenced by prevailing market rates of interest primarily on competing investments, account maturities and the levels of savings in the Company’s market area. The Company generates the majority of its revenues from interest income on loans that it originates and purchases, income from investment in securities and service charges on customer accounts. The Company’s revenues are partially offset by interest expense paid on deposits and borrowings, the provision for loan losses and noninterest expenses, such as operating expenses. The Company’s operating expenses primarily consist of employee compensation and benefit expenses, premises and occupancy expenses, data processing and communication expenses and other general expenses. The Company’s results of operations are also affected by prevailing economic conditions, competition, government policies and other actions of regulatory agencies.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
We have established various accounting policies that govern the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements in Item 8 hereof. The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Certain accounting policies require management to make estimates and assumptions that have a material impact on the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities; management considers these to be critical accounting policies. The estimates and assumptions management uses are based on historical experience and other factors, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions, which could have a material impact on the carrying value of assets and liabilities at consolidated statements of financial condition dates and the Company’s results of operations for future reporting periods.
 
Allowance for Loan Losses
 
We consider the determination of ALLL to be among our critical accounting policies, requiring judicious estimates and assumptions in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements and being particularly susceptible to significant change. The Company maintains an ALLL at a level deemed appropriate by management to provide for known or probable incurred losses in the portfolio at the consolidated statements of financial condition date. The Company has implemented and adheres to an internal loan review system and loss allowance methodology designed to provide for the detection of problem loans and maintenance of an adequate allowance to cover loan losses. Management’s determination of the adequacy of ALLL is based on an evaluation of the composition of the portfolio, actual loss experience, industry charge-off experience on loans, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors in the areas in which the Company’s lending and real estate activities are based. These factors may affect the borrowers’ ability to pay and the value of the underlying collateral. The allowance is calculated by applying loss factors to loans held for investment according to loan type and loan credit classification. The loss factors are evaluated on a quarterly basis and established based primarily upon the Bank’s historical loss experience and, to a lesser extent, the industry charge-off experience. Various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Company’s ALLL. Such agencies may require the Bank to recognize additions to the allowance based on judgments different from those of management. In the opinion of management, and in accordance with the credit loss allowance methodology, the present allowance is considered adequate to absorb estimable and probable credit losses. Additions and reductions to the allowance are reflected in current period operating results. Charge-offs to the allowance are made when specific loans (or portions thereof) are considered uncollectible or are transferred to OREO and the fair value of the property securing the loan is less than the loan’s recorded investment. Recoveries are credited to the allowance.


46


Although management uses the best information available to make these estimates, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary due to economic, operating, regulatory and other conditions that may be beyond the Company’s control. For further information on the ALLL, see Notes 1 and 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 hereof.

Business Combinations 

We account for acquisitions under the acquisition method. All identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value. Any excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets and other identifiable intangible assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Identifiable intangible assets include core deposit intangibles, which have a definite life. Core deposit intangibles (“CDI”) are subsequently amortized over the estimated life up to 10 years and are tested for impairment annually. Goodwill generated from business combinations is deemed to have an indefinite life and is not subject to amortization, and instead is tested for impairment at least annually.

As part of the estimation of fair value, we review each loan or loan pool acquired to determine whether there is evidence of deterioration in credit quality since inception and if it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due under the contractual loan agreements. We consider expected prepayments and estimated cash flows including principal and interest payments at the date of acquisition. If a loan is determined to be a purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) loan, the amount of contractual cash flows in excess of the estimated future cash flows is not accreted into earnings (non-accretable difference). The amount of the estimated future cash flows in excess of the book value of the loan is accreted into interest income over the remaining life of the loan (accretable yield). The Company records these loans on the acquisition date at their fair value. Thus, an allowance for loan losses is not established on the acquisition date. Losses or a reduction in cash flow, which arise subsequent to the date of acquisition are reflected as a charge through the provision for loan losses. Increases in expected future cash flows are reflected as an adjustment to the accretable yield and are recognized on a prospective basis over the remaining life of the loan.

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns using the asset liability method. In estimating future tax consequences, all expected future events other than enactments of changes in the tax laws or rates are considered. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred tax assets are to be recognized for temporary differences that will result in deductible amounts in future years and for tax carryforwards if, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. See also Note 14 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 hereof.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

We use fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain financial instruments and to determine fair value disclosures. Investment securities available-for-sale are financial instruments recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Additionally, from time to time, we may be required to record at fair value other financial assets on a non-recurring basis, such as impaired loans and OREO. These non-recurring fair value adjustments typically involve application of lower-of-cost-or-fair value accounting or write-downs of individual assets. During the first quarter of 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01 and measures the fair value of financial instruments reported at amortized cost on the consolidated statement of financial condition using the exit price notion. Further, we include in Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements information about the extent to which fair value is used to measure assets and liabilities, the valuation methodologies used and its impact to earnings. Additionally, for financial instruments not recorded at fair value we disclose the estimate of their fair value.
 

47


Operating Results
 
Overview.  The comparability of financial information is affected by our acquisitions. On July 1, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Grandpoint.

Non-GAAP Measurements
 
The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operational performance and to enhance investors’ overall understanding of such financial performance. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s financial performance, financial position or cash flows that exclude (or include) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. However, these non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and are not a substitute for an analysis based on GAAP measures and may not be comparable to non-GAAP financial measures that may be presented by other companies. The non-GAAP measures the Company uses include the following:

Tangible common equity: Total stockholders’ equity is reduced by the amount of intangible assets, including goodwill.
Tangible common equity amounts and ratios, tangible assets and tangible book value per share: Given that the use of these measures is prevalent among banking regulators, investors and analysts, we disclose them in addition to equity-to-assets ratio, total assets and book value per share, respectively.
Efficiency ratio: This figure represents the ratio of noninterest expense less other real estate owned operations, core deposit intangible amortization and merger-related expense to the sum of net interest income before provision for loan losses and total noninterest income, less gain/(loss) on sale of securities, other-than-temporary impairment recovery/(loss) on investment securities, gain/(loss) on sale of other real estate owned and gain/(loss) from debt extinguishment.
Return on average tangible common equity: This figure is calculated by excluding CDI amortization expense and excluding the average CDI and average goodwill from the average stockholders’ equity during the period.
Core net interest income and core net interest margin: Core net interest income is calculated by excluding scheduled accretion income, accelerated accretion income, CD mark-to-market and nonrecurring nonaccrual interest paid from net interest income. The core net interest margin is calculated as the ratio of core net interest income to average interest-earning assets.
    

    

48


The following tables provide reconciliations of the non-GAAP measures with financial measures defined by GAAP:

Tangible Common Equity Amounts and Ratios

 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Total stockholders’ equity
 
$
2,012,594

 
$
1,969,697

 
$
1,241,996

Less: intangible assets
 
891,634

 
909,282

 
536,343

Tangible common equity
 
$
1,120,960

 
$
1,060,415

 
$
705,653

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
 
$
11,776,012

 
$
11,487,387

 
$
8,024,501

Less: intangible assets
 
891,634

 
909,282

 
536,343

Tangible assets
 
$
10,884,378

 
$
10,578,105

 
$
7,488,158

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common equity ratio
 
17.09
%
 
17.15
%
 
15.48
%
Less: intangible equity ratio
 
6.79

 
7.13

 
6.06

Tangible common equity ratio
 
10.30
%
 
10.02
%
 
9.42
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic shares outstanding
 
59,506,057

 
62,480,755

 
46,245,050

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Book value per share
 
$
33.82

 
$
31.52

 
$
26.86

Less: intangible book value per share
 
14.98

 
14.55

 
11.60

Tangible book value per share
 
$
18.84

 
$
16.97

 
$
15.26


Efficiency Ratio

 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Total noninterest expense
 
$
259,065

 
$
249,905

 
$
167,958

Less: CDI amortization
 
17,245

 
13,594

 
6,144

Less: merger-related expense
 
656

 
18,454

 
21,002

Less: other real estate owned operations, net
 
160

 
4

 
72

Noninterest expense, adjusted
 
$
241,004

 
$
217,853

 
$
140,740

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income before provision for loan losses
 
$
447,301

 
$
392,711

 
$
247,502

Add: total noninterest income
 
35,236

 
31,027

 
31,114

Less: net gain loss from investment securities
 
8,571

 
1,399

 
2,737

Less: recoveries of OTTI impairment- securities
 
2

 
4

 
1

Less: net gain (loss) from other real estate owned
 
52

 
281

 
46

Less: net gain (loss) from debt extinguishment
 
(612
)
 

 

Revenue, adjusted
 
$
474,524

 
$
422,054

 
$
275,832

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Efficiency ratio
 
50.8
%
 
51.6
%
 
51.0
%


49


Return on Average Tangible Common Equity

 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Net income
 
$
159,718

 
$
123,340

 
$
60,100

Plus: CDI amortization expense
 
17,245

 
13,594

 
6,144

Less: CDI amortization expense tax adjustment (1)
 
4,986

 
3,948

 
2,272

Net income for average tangible common equity
 
$
171,977

 
$
132,986

 
$
63,972

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average stockholders’ equity
 
$
1,996,761

 
$
1,599,886

 
$
890,856

Less: average CDI
 
92,339

 
73,683

 
30,270

Less: average goodwill
 
808,535

 
651,550

 
325,859

Average tangible common equity
 
$
1,095,887

 
$
874,653

 
$
534,727

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return on average equity (2)
 
8.00
%
 
7.71
%
 
6.75
%
Return on average tangible common equity (2)
 
15.69
%
 
15.20
%
 
11.96
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) CDI amortization expense adjusted by statutory tax rate.
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2) Ratio is annualized.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Core Net Interest Margin

 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Net interest income
 
$
447,301

 
$
392,711

 
$
247,502

Less: scheduled accretion income
 
9,151

 
9,164

 
9,144

Less: accelerated accretion income
 
11,458

 
6,918

 
3,757

Less: premium amortization on CD
 
521

 
1,551

 
969

Less: nonrecurring nonaccrual interest paid
 
470

 
380

 

Core net interest income
 
$
425,701

 
$
374,698

 
$
233,632

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average interest-earning assets
 
$
10,319,552

 
$
8,836,075

 
$
5,583,774

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest margin
 
4.33
%
 
4.44
%
 
4.43
%
Core net interest margin
 
4.13
%
 
4.24
%
 
4.18
%


50


Net Interest Income.  Our primary source of revenue is net interest income, which is the difference between the interest earned on loans, investment securities, and interest earning balances with financial institutions (“interest-earning assets”) and the interest paid on deposits and borrowings (“interest-bearing liabilities”) and capital deployed. Net interest margin is net interest income expressed as a percentage of average interest earning assets. Net interest income is affected by changes in both interest rates and the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.
 
For 2019, net interest income totaled $447.3 million, an increase of $54.6 million or 14% from 2018. The increase reflected an increase in average interest-earning assets of $1.48 billion, primarily due to the acquisition of Grandpoint on July 1, 2018, which at acquisition added $2.40 billion of loans, and organic loan growth from new loan originations of $1.56 billion in 2019, partially offset by an increase in average interest-bearing liabilities of $631.4 million and loan paydowns of $1.36 billion. Net interest margin decreased 11 basis points to 4.33% from 2018, primarily due to cost of funds increasing 15 basis points, offset by yield on interest-earning assets increasing 3 basis points.
 
For 2018, net interest income totaled $392.7 million, an increase of $145.2 million or 59% from 2017. The increase reflected an increase in average interest-earning assets of $3.25 billion, primarily due to the acquisitions of Grandpoint on July 1, 2018 and Plaza Bancorp (“PLZZ”) on November 1, 2017, which at acquisition added $2.40 billion and $1.06 billion of loans, respectively, and organic loan growth from new loan originations of $1.62 billion in 2018, partially offset by an increase in interest-bearing liabilities of $1.81 billion and loan paydowns of $1.28 billion. Net interest margin increased 1 basis point to 4.44% from 2017, primarily due to the yield on interest-earning assets increasing 23 basis points and a higher level of increases in the balances of interest-earning assets relative to interest-bearing liabilities, offset by a 41 basis point increase in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.
     
The following table presents for the periods indicated the average dollar amounts from selected balance sheet categories calculated from daily average balances and the total dollar amount, including adjustments to yields and costs, of:
 
interest income earned from average interest-earning assets and the resultant yields; and
interest expense incurred from average interest-bearing liabilities and resultant costs, expressed as rates.

The table also sets forth our net interest income, net interest rate spread and net interest rate margin for the periods indicated. The net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities. The net interest rate margin reflects the ratio of net interest income as a percentage of interest-earning assets for the year.
 

51


 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
 
Average
Yield/Cost
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
 
Average
Yield/Cost
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
 
Average
Yield/Cost
 
(dollars in thousands)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-earning assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
187,935

 
$
1,217

 
0.65
%
 
$
221,236

 
$
2,123

 
0.96
%
 
$
140,402

 
$
842

 
0.60
%
Investment securities
1,363,228

 
39,227

 
2.88

 
1,087,835

 
30,890

 
2.84

 
718,564

 
18,136

 
2.52

Loans receivable, net (1)(2)
8,768,389

 
485,663

 
5.54

 
7,527,004

 
415,410

 
5.52

 
4,724,808

 
251,027

 
5.31

Total interest-earning assets
10,319,552

 
526,107

 
5.10
%
 
8,836,075

 
448,423

 
5.07
%
 
5,583,774

 
270,005

 
4.84
%
Noninterest-earning assets
1,227,360

 
 

 
 

 
958,842

 
 

 
 

 
511,109

 
 

 
 

Total assets
$
11,546,912

 
 

 
 

 
$
9,794,917

 
 

 
 

 
$
6,094,883

 
 

 
 

Liabilities and Equity
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest-bearing deposits:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest checking
$
549,221

 
$
2,340

 
0.43
%
 
$
438,698

 
$
1,167

 
0.27
%
 
$
293,450

 
$
365

 
0.12
%
Money market
3,046,593

 
28,279

 
0.93

 
2,624,106

 
19,567

 
0.75

 
1,701,209

 
6,720

 
0.40

Savings
242,127

 
382

 
0.16

 
241,686

 
357

 
0.15

 
189,408

 
251

 
0.13

Retail certificates of deposit
1,017,445

 
17,807

 
1.75

 
897,033

 
10,937

 
1.22

 
556,121

 
3,390

 
0.61

Wholesale/brokered certificates of deposit
389,978

 
9,489

 
2.43

 
334,728

 
5,625

 
1.68

 
227,822

 
2,645

 
1.16

Total interest-bearing deposits
5,245,364

 
58,297

 
1.11
%
 
4,536,251

 
37,653

 
0.83
%
 
2,968,010

 
13,371

 
0.45
%
FHLB advances and other borrowings
405,188

 
9,829

 
2.43

 
558,518

 
11,343

 
2.03

 
341,782

 
4,411

 
1.29

Subordinated debentures
183,383

 
10,680

 
5.82

 
107,732

 
6,716

 
6.23

 
81,466

 
4,721

 
5.80

Total borrowings
588,571

 
20,509

 
3.48
%
 
666,250

 
18,059

 
2.71
%
 
423,248

 
9,132

 
2.16
%
Total interest-bearing liabilities
5,833,935

 
78,806

 
1.35
%
 
5,202,501

 
55,712

 
1.07
%
 
3,391,258

 
22,503

 
0.66
%
Noninterest-bearing deposits
3,564,809

 
 

 
 

 
2,909,588

 
 

 
 

 
1,758,730

 
 

 
 

Other liabilities
151,407

 
 

 
 

 
82,942

 
 

 
 

 
54,039

 
 

 
 

Total liabilities
9,550,151

 
 

 
 

 
8,195,031

 
 

 
 

 
5,204,027

 
 

 
 

Stockholders’ equity
1,996,761

 
 

 
 

 
1,599,886

 
 

 
 

 
890,856

 
 

 
 

Total liabilities and equity
$
11,546,912

 
 

 
 

 
$
9,794,917

 
 

 
 

 
$
6,094,883

 
 

 
 

Net interest income
 

 
$
447,301

 
 

 
 

 
$
392,711

 
 

 
 

 
$
247,502

 
 

Net interest rate spread
 

 
 

 
3.75
%
 
 

 
 

 
4.00
%
 
 

 
 

 
4.18
%
Net interest margin (3)
 

 
 

 
4.33
%
 
 

 
 

 
4.44
%
 
 

 
 

 
4.43
%
Cost of deposits
 
 
 
 
0.66
%
 
 
 
 
 
0.51
%
 
 
 
 
 
0.28
%
Cost of funds (4)
 
 
 
 
0.84
%
 
 
 
 
 
0.69
%
 
 
 
 
 
0.44
%
Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities
 
 

 
176.89
%
 
 

 
 

 
169.84
%
 
 

 
 

 
164.65
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Average balance includes loans held for sale and nonperforming loans and is net of deferred loan origination fees/costs and discounts/premiums.
(2) Interest income includes net discount accretion of $20.6 million, $16.1 million and $12.9 million, respectively.
(3) Represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
(4) Represents annualized total interest expense divided by the sum of average total interest-bearing liabilities and noninterest-bearing deposits.

    

52


Changes in our net interest income are a function of changes in both volumes and mix as well as rates of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. The following table presents the impact the volume and rate changes have had on our net interest income for the years indicated. For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, we have provided information on changes to our net interest income with respect to:
 
Changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by the prior period rate);
Changes in interest rates (changes in interest rates multiplied by the prior period volume); and
The net change or the combined impact of volume and rate changes allocated proportionately to changes in volume and changes in interest rates.

 
Year Ended December 31, 2019
Compared to
Year Ended December 31, 2018
Increase (Decrease) Due to
 
Year Ended December 31, 2018
Compared to
Year Ended December 31, 2017
Increase (Decrease) Due to
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Net
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Net
 
(dollars in thousands)
Interest-Earning Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
(288
)
 
$
(618
)
 
$
(906
)
 
$
628

 
$
653

 
$
1,281

Investment securities
7,898

 
439

 
8,337

 
10,225

 
2,529

 
12,754

Loans receivable, net
68,744

 
1,509

 
70,253

 
154,121

 
10,262

 
164,383

Total interest-earning assets
76,354

 
1,330

 
77,684

 
164,974

 
13,444

 
178,418

Interest-Bearing Liabilities
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest checking
350

 
823

 
1,173

 
227

 
575

 
802

Money market
3,497

 
5,215

 
8,712

 
4,908

 
7,939

 
12,847

Savings
1

 
24

 
25

 
68

 
38

 
106

Retail certificates of deposit
1,624

 
5,246

 
6,870

 
3,274

 
3,810

 
7,084

Wholesale/brokered certificates of deposit
1,043

 
2,821

 
3,864

 
1,143

 
2,300

 
3,443

FHLB advances and other borrowings
(5,361
)
 
3,847

 
(1,514
)
 
3,648

 
3,284

 
6,932

Subordinated debentures
4,690

 
(726
)
 
3,964

 
1,429

 
566

 
1,995

Total interest-bearing liabilities
5,844

 
17,250

 
23,094

 
14,697

 
18,512

 
33,209

Changes in net interest income
$
70,510

 
$
(15,920
)
 
$
54,590

 
$
150,277

 
$
(5,068
)
 
$
145,209


Provision for Credit Losses.  For 2019, we recorded a $5.7 million provision for credit losses compared to $8.3 million recorded in 2018. The current year provision included a $1.4 million provision reversal for unfunded commitments and $53,000 provision reversal for sold loans. The provision in 2018 included $163,000 provision for unfunded commitment, partially offset by $66,000 provision reversal for sold loans. Net loan charge-offs for 2019 amounted to $7.5 million, an increase of $6.5 million from $1.0 million in 2018.
 
For 2018, we recorded an $8.3 million provision for credit losses compared to $8.4 million recorded in 2017. The $179,000 decrease in the provision for credit losses was primarily attributable to a lower level of net charge-offs for the year, partially offset by the growth in our loan portfolio. Net loan charge-offs for 2018 amounted to $1.0 million, virtually unchanged from $1.0 million in 2017.

 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Provision for Credit Losses
 
(dollars in thousands)
Provision for loans and lease losses
 
7,135

 
8,156

 
8,640

Provision for unfunded commitments
 
(1,363
)
 
163

 
(208
)
Provision for sold loans
 
(53
)
 
(66
)
 

Total provision for credit losses
 
5,719

 
8,253

 
8,432


53


Noninterest Income.  For 2019, noninterest income totaled $35.2 million, an increase of $4.2 million or 13.6% from 2018. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net gain on sale from investments securities of $7.2 million as the Bank sold $543.2 million of securities during 2019 compared to $393.1 million in 2018 and other income of $845,000, which is primarily attributable to a $2.2 million increase in income on CRA related equity investments, partially offset by $612,000 of loss on debt extinguishment, and lower rental income and recoveries from pre-acquisition charge-offs of $339,000 and $318,000, respectively.

Also, the Bank had increases of $641,000, $536,000 and $395,000 in service charges on deposit accounts, other service fee income and loan servicing fees, respectively, reflecting growth in core transaction deposit and loan accounts from both organic growth and the Grandpoint acquisition. These increases was partially offset by a $4.1 million decrease in net gain from the sales of loans, from $10.8 million in 2018 to $6.6 million in 2019. During 2019, we sold $191.5 million of loans with an average price of 103.3%, compared to 2018 in which we sold $307.5 million of loans with an average price of 103.5%. In 2019, total loans sold included $99.9 million in SBA and U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) loans for a net gain of $8.4 million and $91.7 million in other loans for a net loss of $1.8 million, compared with sales of $123.6 million in SBA and USDA loans with a net gain of $9.3 million and $183.8 million in other loans for a net gain of $1.5 million in 2018.

In addition, debit card interchange fee income decreased $1.3 million, primarily the result of the Bank becoming a non-exempt institution, effective July 1, 2019, under the Durbin Amendment that regulates debit card interchange fee income.

For 2018, noninterest income totaled $31.0 million, a decrease of $87,000 or 0.3% from 2017. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in other income of $2.0 million, which is primarily attributable to lower recoveries of $3.1 million from pre-acquisition charge-offs, and a decrease in other service fee income of $945,000. Also, the Bank had a $1.7 million decrease on the gain on sale of loans, from $12.5 million in 2017 to $10.8 million in 2018. During 2018, we sold $307.5 million of loans with an average price of 103.5%, compared to 2017 in which we sold $223.6 million of loans with an average price of 105.6%. Lastly, gain on sale of investments decreased $1.3 million as the Bank sold $393.1 million of securities during 2018 compared to $260.8 million in 2017. These decreases were offset by increases of $2.3 million, $1.9 million and $658,000 in debit card interchange fee income, service charges on deposit accounts and loan servicing fees income, respectively, reflecting growth in core transaction deposit and loan accounts from both organic growth and the Grandpoint acquisition. In addition, earnings on banked-owned-life-insurance (“BOLI”) increased $1.1 million, which was primarily the result of a death benefit of $471,000 in 2018 as compared to $63,000 in 2017 and, to a lesser extent, additional BOLI acquired with the Grandpoint and PLZZ acquisitions.
 
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Noninterest Income
 
(dollars in thousands)
Loan servicing fees
 
$
1,840

 
$
1,445

 
$
787

Service charges on deposit accounts
 
5,769

 
5,128

 
3,273

Other service fee income
 
1,438

 
902

 
1,847

Debit card interchange fee income
 
3,004

 
4,326

 
2,043

Earnings on BOLI
 
3,486

 
3,427

 
2,279

Net gain from sales of loans
 
6,642

 
10,759

 
12,468

Net gain from sales of investment securities
 
8,571

 
1,399

 
2,737

Other income
 
4,486

 
3,641

 
5,680

Total noninterest income
 
$
35,236

 
$
31,027

 
$
31,114



54


Noninterest Expense.  For 2019, noninterest expense totaled $259.1 million, an increase of $9.2 million, or 3.7% from 2018. The increase in noninterest expense was primarily due to higher compensation and benefits of $9.3 million, which was primarily related to an increase in staff from our acquisitions of Grandpoint on July 1, 2018 and internal growth in staff to support our overall growth. Occupancy expense grew by $6.2 million in 2019, mostly due to the Grandpoint acquisition in 2018 and the additional branches retained from the acquisition. Deposit expense increased by $5.4 million attributable largely to higher deposit balances. The remaining expense categories, excluding merger-related expense, grew by $6.1 million, or 7.9%, in 2019, due to both a combination of expense growth related to the acquisition of Grandpoint and increased expenses to support the Company’s organic growth in loans and deposits. The most significant increases in expense from these remaining categories were $3.7 million increase in CDI expenses, $2.8 million increase in legal, audit, and professional expense and $2.3 million other expenses. Merger-related expense decreased $17.8 million as compared to 2018, reflecting the costs of the acquisition of Grandpoint in 2018.

For 2018, noninterest expense totaled $249.9 million, an increase of $81.9 million or 48.8% from 2017. The increase in noninterest expense was primarily due to higher compensation and benefits of $45.7 million, which was primarily related to an increase in staff from our acquisitions of Grandpoint on July 1, 2018 and PLZZ on November 1, 2017, and internal growth in staff to support our overall growth. Occupancy expense grew by $9.8 million in 2018, mostly due to the HEOP and PLZZ acquisitions in 2017 and Grandpoint acquisition in 2018, and the additional branches retained from those acquisitions. The remaining expense categories, excluding merger- related expense, grew by $28.9 million or 60.2% in 2018, due to both a combination of expense growth related to the acquisition of Grandpoint and PLZZ and increased expenses to support the Company’s organic growth in loans and deposits. The most significant increases in expense from these remaining categories were a $7.5 million increase in CDI expenses, $5.2 million increase in data processing costs, $3.9 million increase in legal, audit, and professional expenses, and a $3.7 million increase in deposit related expenses, which include expenses such as lock box services. Merger-related expense decreased $2.5 million as compared to 2017, reflecting the costs of the acquisitions of HEOP and PLZZ in 2017 as compared to the costs of the Grandpoint acquisition in 2018.
 
Our efficiency ratio was 50.8% for 2019, compared to 51.6% for 2018 and 51.0% for 2017.
 
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Noninterest Expense
 
(dollars in thousands)
Compensation and benefits
 
$
139,187

 
$
129,886

 
$
84,138

Premises and occupancy
 
30,758

 
24,544

 
14,742

Data processing
 
12,301

 
13,412

 
8,206

Other real estate owned operations, net
 
160

 
4

 
72

FDIC insurance premiums
 
764

 
3,002

 
2,151

Legal, audit and professional expense
 
12,869

 
10,040

 
6,101

Marketing expense
 
6,402

 
6,151

 
4,436

Office, telecommunications and postage expense
 
4,826

 
5,312

 
3,117

Loan expense
 
4,079

 
3,370

 
3,299

Deposit expense
 
15,266

 
9,916

 
6,240

Merger-related expense
 
656

 
18,454

 
21,002

CDI amortization
 
17,245

 
13,594

 
6,144

Other expense
 
14,552

 
12,220

 
8,310

Total noninterest expense
 
$
259,065

 
$
249,905

 
$
167,958



55


Income Taxes. The Company recorded income taxes of $58.0 million in 2019, compared with $42.2 million in 2018, and $42.1 million in 2017. Our effective tax rate was 26.7% for 2019, 25.5% for 2018, and 41.2% for 2017. The effective tax rate in each year is affected by various items, including changes in tax law, tax exempt income from municipal securities, loans and BOLI, tax benefits associated with low income housing tax credit (“LIHTC”) investments, merger-related expenses, the settlement of stock compensation, and other permanent differences.

The effective tax rate for 2019 increased from 2018 primarily due to a reduction in significant benefits from the settlement of stock compensation awards, as well as the absence of the favorable adjustments to income tax expense in 2018 attributable to the re-measurement of net deferred tax assets associated with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 hereof for further discussion of income taxes and an explanation of the factors, which impact our effective tax rate.

Financial Condition
 
At December 31, 2019, total assets of the Company were $11.78 billion, an increase of $288.6 million, or 3%, from total assets of $11.49 billion at December 31, 2018. The asset growth in 2019 was primarily due to increases of $265.2 million in available-for-sale investment securities as well as $123.4 million in cash and cash equivalents stemming from deposit growth, partially offset by a $118.6 million decrease in gross total loans, including loans held-for-sale.

Investment Securities
 
Our investment policy, as established by our board of directors, attempts to provide and maintain liquidity, generate a favorable return on investments without incurring undue interest rate and credit risk and complement our lending activities. Specifically, our investment policy generally limits our investments to U.S. government securities, federal agency-backed securities, U.S. government-sponsored (“GSE”) guaranteed mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), which are guaranteed by Fannie Mae (“FNMA”), Freddie Mac (“FHLMC”), or Ginnie Mae (“GNMA”), and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMO”), municipal bonds and corporate bonds, specifically bank debt notes. The Bank has designated all investment securities, other than investments made for CRA purposes, as available-for-sale.


56


Below is a breakdown of the investment security portfolio for the past three years by investment type and designation.
 
At December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
% Portfolio
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
% Portfolio
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
% Portfolio
 
(dollars in thousands)
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury
$
60,457

 
$
63,555

 
4.5
%
 
$
59,688

 
$
60,912

 
5.3
%
 
$

 
$

 
%
Agency
240,348

 
246,358

 
17.5

 
128,958

 
130,070

 
11.3

 
47,051

 
47,209

 
5.9

Corporate debt
149,150

 
151,353

 
10.8

 
104,158

 
103,543

 
9.0

 
78,155

 
79,546

 
9.9

Municipal bonds
384,032

 
397,298

 
28.2

 
238,914

 
238,630

 
20.8

 
228,929

 
232,128

 
28.8

Collateralized mortgage obligation: residential
9,869

 
9,984

 
0.7

 
24,699

 
24,338

 
2.1

 
33,984

 
33,781

 
4.2

Mortgage-backed securities: residential
494,404

 
499,836

 
35.6

 
554,751

 
545,729

 
47.6

 
398,664

 
394,765

 
49.0

Total investment securities available-for-sale
1,338,260

 
1,368,384

 
97.3

 
1,111,168

 
1,103,222

 
96.1

 
786,783

 
787,429

 
97.8

Investment Securities Held-to-Maturity:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Mortgage-backed securities: residential
36,114

 
37,036

 
2.6

 
43,381

 
42,843

 
3.7

 
17,153

 
16,944

 
2.1

Other
1,724

 
1,724

 
0.1

 
1,829

 
1,829

 
0.2

 
1,138

 
1,138

 
0.1

Total investment securities held-to-maturity
37,838

 
38,760

 
2.7

 
45,210

 
44,672

 
3.9

 
18,291

 
18,082

 
2.2

Total investment securities
$
1,376,098

 
$
1,407,144

 
100
%
 
$
1,156,378

 
$
1,147,894

 
100
%
 
$
805,074

 
$
805,511

 
100
%

Our investment securities portfolio amounted to $1.41 billion at December 31, 2019, as compared to $1.15 billion at December 31, 2018, representing a 23% increase. The increase in securities in 2019 was primarily due to $889.5 million in purchases and $38.1 million in mark-to-market fair value adjustment, partially offset by $543.2 million in sales and $126.6 million in principal payments, amortization and redemptions due to higher purchases and expansion of the investment portfolio. In general, the purchase of investment securities primarily related to investing excess liquidity from our banking operations.  


57


The following table sets forth the fair values and weighted average yields on our investment security portfolio by contractual maturity as of the date indicated:
 
At December 31, 2019
 
Due in One Year
or Less
 
Due after One Year
through Five Years
 
Due after Five Years
through Ten Years
 
Due after
Ten Years
 
Total
 
Fair
Value
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
Fair
Value
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
Fair
Value
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
Fair
Value
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
Fair
Value
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury
$
500

 
2.51
%
 
$
20,586

 
2.26
%
 
$
42,469

 
2.90
%
 
$

 
%
 
$
63,555

 
2.68
%
Agency
1,014

 
3.08

 
42,162

 
2.72

 
169,070

 
2.39

 
34,112

 
3.00

 
246,358

 
2.53

Corporate debt

 

 

 

 
137,518

 
4.22

 
13,835

 
3.97

 
151,353

 
4.20

Municipal bonds

 

 
1,952

 
2.60

 
26,996

 
2.26

 
368,350

 
2.83

 
397,298

 
2.79

Collateralized mortgage obligation: residential

 

 

 

 
603

 
2.08

 
9,381

 
2.67

 
9,984

 
2.63

Mortgage-backed securities: residential

 

 
2,352

 
3.37

 
195,933

 
2.67

 
301,551

 
2.62

 
499,836

 
2.65

Total investment securities available-for-sale
1,514

 
2.89

 
67,052

 
2.60

 
572,589

 
2.96

 
727,229

 
2.77

 
1,368,384

 
2.84

Investment Securities Held-to-Maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities: residential

 

 
942

 
3.13

 

 

 
36,094

 
3.08

 
37,036

 
3.08

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 
1,724

 
0.97

 
1,724

 
0.97

Total investment securities held-to-maturity

 

 
942

 
3.13

 

 

 
37,818

 
2.99

 
38,760

 
2.99

Total investment securities
$
1,514

 
2.89
%
 
$
67,994

 
2.61
%
 
$
572,589

 
2.96
%
 
$
765,047

 
2.78
%
 
$
1,407,144

 
2.85
%

As of December 31, 2019, our investment securities portfolio consisted of $536.0 million in GSE MBS, $397.3 million in municipal bonds, $246.4 million of agency bonds, $151.4 million in corporate bonds, $63.6 million in U.S. Treasury securities, $10.0 million in GSE CMO and $1.7 million in other securities. The total end of period weighted average interest rate on investments at December 31, 2019 was 2.85%, compared to 2.80% at December 31, 2018, reflecting the increased investment in higher yielding corporate bonds.
 
    

58


The following table lists the percentage of our portfolio exposure, including available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities, to any one issuer as a percentage of capital. The only issuer with greater than 10% exposure is the FNMA at December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, there were no holdings of securities of any one issuer, other than the U.S. Government and its agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of stockholders’ equity.
 
At December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
% Capital
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
% Capital
 
(dollars in thousands)
Issuer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GNMA
$
5,785

 
$
5,823

 
0.3
%
 
$
27,048

 
$
26,402

 
1.3
%
FNMA
369,371

 
373,010

 
18.5

 
361,687

 
357,110

 
18.1

FHLMC
165,231

 
167,101

 
8.3

 
234,096

 
229,936

 
11.7


All of the municipal bond securities in our portfolio have an underlying rating of investment grade, with the majority insured by the largest bond insurance companies to bring each of these securities to a Moody’s A+ rating or better. The Company has predominantly purchased general obligation bonds that are risk-weighted at 20% for regulatory capital purposes. The Company reduces its exposure to any single adverse event by holding securities from geographically diversified municipalities. We are continually monitoring the quality of our municipal bond portfolio in accordance with current financial conditions. To our knowledge, none of the municipalities in which we hold bonds are exhibiting financial problems that would require us to record an OTTI charge. 

The following is a listing of the breakdown by state for our municipal holdings, for all states with greater than 5% of the portfolio listed, and 90.1% of the Texas issues are insured by The Texas Permanent School Fund.
 
At December 31, 2019
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
% Municipal
 
(dollars in thousands)
Issuer
 
 
 
 
 
Texas
$
205,153

 
$
211,762

 
53.3
%
California
49,171

 
51,848

 
13.1

Other
129,708

 
133,688

 
33.6

Total municipal securities
$
384,032

 
$
397,298

 
100.0
%

Loans

Loans held for investment, net, totaled $8.69 billion at December 31, 2019, a decrease of $114.1 million or 1.30% from $8.80 billion at December 31, 2018. The decrease was driven by higher loan prepayments and payoffs, lower loan fundings and loan purchases, partially offset by lower loan sales. The decrease in loans included decreases in construction loans of $113.6 million, one-to-four family loans of $101.5 million, C&I loans of $99.2 million, consumer loans of $38.5 million, SBA loans of $18.1 million, land loans of $15.5 million, agribusiness loans of $10.7 million, and commercial owner occupied of $5.0 million, partially offset by the increases in franchise loans of $151.5 million, commercial non-owner occupied of $69.2 million, multi-family of $41.6 million and farmland loans of $25.5 million. The total end of period weighted average interest rate on loans as of December 31, 2019 was 4.91% and, as of December 31, 2018, was 5.13%.

Loans held for sale totaled $1.7 million at December 31, 2019. Loans held for sale primarily represent the guaranteed portion of SBA loans, which the Bank originates for sale. As of December 31, 2018, loans held for sale totaled $5.7 million.

59


The following table sets forth the composition of our loan portfolio in dollar amounts and as a percentage of the portfolio at the dates indicated:
 
 
At December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
Amount
 
% of Total
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate
 
Amount
 
% of Total
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate
 
Amount
 
% of Total
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate
 
(dollars in thousands)
Business Loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
1,265,185

 
14.5
%
 
5.22
%
 
$
1,364,423

 
15.4
%
 
5.83
%
 
$
1,086,659

 
17.5
%
 
5.18
%
Franchise
916,875

 
10.5

 
5.58

 
765,416

 
8.7

 
5.40

 
660,414

 
10.7

 
5.23

Commercial owner occupied (1)
1,674,092

 
19.2

 
4.85

 
1,679,122

 
19.0

 
4.94

 
1,289,213

 
20.8

 
5.01

SBA
175,815

 
2.0

 
6.82

 
193,882

 
2.2

 
7.17

 
185,514

 
3.0

 
6.30

Agribusiness
127,834

 
1.4

 
4.92

 
138,519

 
1.6

 
5.46

 
116,066

 
1.9

 
4.62

Total business loans
4,159,801

 
47.6

 
5.21

 
4,141,362

 
46.9

 
5.44

 
3,337,866

 
53.9

 
5.16

Real Estate Loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial non-owner occupied
2,072,374

 
23.7

 
4.61

 
2,003,174

 
22.6

 
4.67

 
1,243,115

 
20.0

 
4.60

Multi-family
1,576,870

 
18.1

 
4.30

 
1,535,289

 
17.4

 
4.33

 
794,384

 
12.8

 
4.29

One-to-four family (2)
254,779

 
2.9

 
4.78

 
356,264

 
4.0

 
5.01

 
270,894

 
4.4

 
4.63

Construction
410,065

 
4.7

 
5.99

 
523,643

 
5.9

 
6.74

 
282,811

 
4.6

 
6.13

Farmland
175,997

 
2.0

 
4.71

 
150,502

 
1.7

 
4.80

 
145,393

 
2.3

 
4.52

Land
31,090

 
0.4

 
5.45

 
46,628

 
0.5

 
5.61

 
31,233

 
0.5

 
5.72

Total real estate loans
4,521,175

 
51.8

 
4.65

 
4,615,500

 
52.1

 
4.83

 
2,767,830

 
44.6

 
4.68

Consumer Loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
50,922

 
0.6

 
3.96

 
89,424

 
1.0

 
5.60

 
92,931

 
1.5

 
5.63

Gross loans held for investment
8,731,898

 
100
%
 
4.91
%
 
8,846,286

 
100
%
 
5.13
%
 
6,198,627

 
100
%
 
4.95
%
Deferred loan origination (fees)/costs and (discounts)/premiums, net
(9,587
)
 
 
 
 
 
(9,468
)
 
 

 
 

 
(2,403
)
 
 

 
 

Loans held for investment
8,722,311

 
 
 
 
 
8,836,818

 
 
 
 
 
6,196,224

 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses
(35,698
)
 
 
 
 
 
(36,072
)
 
 

 
 

 
(28,936
)
 
 

 
 

Loans held for investment, net
$
8,686,613

 
 
 
 
 
$
8,800,746

 
 

 
 

 
$
6,167,288

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value
$
1,672

 
 
 
 
 
$
5,719

 
 

 
 

 
$
23,426

 
 

 
 


60


 
2016
 
2015
 
Amount
 
% of Total
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate
 
Amount
 
% of Total
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate
 
(dollars in thousands)
Business Loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
563,169

 
17.4
%
 
4.82
%
 
$
309,741

 
13.7
%
 
4.95
%
Franchise
459,421

 
14.2

 
5.24

 
328,925

 
14.6

 
5.45

Commercial owner occupied (1)
454,918

 
14.1

 
4.76

 
294,726

 
13.1

 
4.98

SBA
88,994

 
2.8

 
5.63

 
53,691

 
2.4

 
5.49

Warehouse facilities

 

 

 
143,200

 
6.4

 
3.88

Total business loans
1,566,502

 
48.5
%
 
4.97
%
 
1,130,283

 
50.2
%
 
4.99
%
Real Estate Loans


 


 


 
 
 


 


Commercial non-owner occupied
586,975

 
18.1

 
4.63

 
421,583

 
18.7

 
4.91

Multi-family
690,955

 
21.3

 
4.28

 
429,003

 
19.0

 
4.56

One-to-four family (2)
100,451

 
3.1

 
4.62

 
80,050

 
3.6

 
4.51

Construction
269,159

 
8.3

 
5.57

 
169,748

 
7.5

 
5.42

Land
19,829

 
0.6

 
5.36

 
18,340

 
0.8

 
5.16

Total real estate loans
1,667,369

 
51.4

 
4.65

 
1,118,724

 
49.6

 
4.83

Consumer Loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
4,112

 
0.1

 
5.60

 
5,111

 
0.2

 
5.21

Gross loans held for investment (3)
3,237,983

 
100
%
 
4.81
%
 
2,254,118

 
100
%
 
4.91
%
Plus: Deferred loan origination costs/(fees) and premiums/(discounts), net
3,630

 
 
 
 
 
197

 
 

 
 

Loans held for investment
3,241,613

 
 
 
 
 
2,254,315

 
 
 
 
Allowance for loan losses
(21,296
)
 
 

 
 

 
(17,317
)
 
 

 
 

Loans held for investment, net
$
3,220,317

 
 

 
 

 
$
2,236,998

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value
$
7,711

 
 

 
 

 
$
8,565

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Secured by real estate.
(2) Includes second trust deeds.
(3) Total gross loans held for investment for December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, net of the unaccreted fair value net purchase discounts of $40.7 million and $61.0 million, respectively.


61


The following table shows the contractual maturity of the Company’s loans, including loans held for sale, without consideration of prepayment assumptions at the date indicated:

 
At December 31, 2019
 
Due in One Year or Less
 
Due after One Year through Five Years
 
Due after Five Years
 
Total
 
(dollars in thousands)
Business loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
562,397

 
$
334,856

 
$
367,932

 
$
1,265,185

Franchise
30,393

 
24,055

 
862,427

 
916,875

Commercial owner occupied
38,284

 
88,401

 
1,547,407

 
1,674,092

SBA
374

 
3,890

 
173,223

 
177,487

Agribusiness
53,721

 
56,296

 
17,817

 
127,834

Total business loans
685,169

 
507,498

 
2,968,806

 
4,161,473

Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial non-owner occupied
94,926

 
124,963

 
1,852,486

 
2,072,375

Multi-family
16,507

 
10,110

 
1,550,253

 
1,576,870

One-to-four family
17,052

 
6,897

 
230,830

 
254,779

Construction
276,557

 
69,862

 
63,646

 
410,065

Farmland
5,512

 
31,392

 
139,092

 
175,996

Land
12,512

 
6,849

 
11,729

 
31,090

Total real estate loans
423,066

 
250,073

 
3,848,036

 
4,521,175

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
3,592

 
41,882

 
5,448

 
50,922

Total gross loans
$
1,111,827

 
$
799,453

 
$
6,822,290

 
$
8,733,570




62


The following table sets forth at December 31, 2019 the dollar amount of gross loans receivable that are contractually due after December 31, 2020 and whether such loans have fixed interest rates or adjustable interest rates. 
 
At December 31, 2019
Loans Due After December 31, 2020
 
Fixed
 
Adjustable
 
Total
 
(dollars in thousands)
Business loans
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
283,482

 
$
419,306

 
$
702,788

Franchise
88,874

 
797,608

 
886,482

Commercial owner occupied
504,646

 
1,131,162

 
1,635,808

SBA
3,568

 
173,545

 
177,113

Agribusiness
51,801

 
22,312

 
74,113

Total business loans
932,371

 
2,543,933

 
3,476,304

Real estate loans
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial non-owner occupied
642,063

 
1,335,385

 
1,977,448

Multi-family
127,079

 
1,433,284

 
1,560,363

One-to-four family
37,479

 
200,248

 
237,727

Construction
33,662

 
99,846

 
133,508

Farmland
111,007

 
59,478

 
170,485

Land
2,873

 
15,705

 
18,578

Total real estate loans
954,163

 
3,143,946

 
4,098,109

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
5,710

 
41,620

 
47,330

Total gross loans
$
1,892,244

 
$
5,729,499

 
$
7,621,743



     









 



 

 

  

 

  

63


Delinquent Loans.  When a borrower fails to make required payments on a loan and does not cure the delinquency within 30 days, we normally initiate formal collection activities including, for loans secured by real estate, recording a notice of default and, after providing the required notices to the borrower, commencing foreclosure proceedings. If the loan is not reinstated within the time permitted by law, we may sell the property at a foreclosure sale. At these foreclosure sales, we generally acquire title to the property. At December 31, 2019, loans delinquent 60 or more days as a percentage of total loans held for investment was 20 basis points, up from 7 basis points at December 31, 2018.

The following table sets forth delinquencies in the Company’s loan portfolio at the dates indicated:  
 
30 - 59 Days
 
60 - 89 Days
 
90 Days or More (1)
 
Total
 
# of
Loans
 
Principal
Balance
of Loans
 
# of
Loans
 
Principal
Balance
of Loans
 
# of
Loans
 
Principal
Balance
of Loans
 
# of
Loans
 
Principal
Balance
of Loans
 
(dollars in thousands)
At December 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
7

 
$
422

 
6

 
$
826

 
2

 
$
2,997

 
15

 
$
4,245

Franchise

 

 
2

 
9,142

 

 

 
2

 
9,142

Commercial owner occupied
1

 
331

 

 

 

 

 
1

 
331

SBA
2

 
169

 
1

 
613

 
10

 
2,434

 
13

 
3,216

Real estate loans
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial non-owner occupied
2

 
1,179

 

 

 
2

 
1,128

 
4

 
2,307

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
1

 
5

 
1

 
2

 
1

 
1

 
3

 
8

Total
13

 
$
2,106

 
10

 
$
10,583

 
15

 
$
6,560

 
38

 
$
19,249

Delinquent loans to total loans held for investment
 
 
0.02
%
 
 

 
0.12
%
 
 

 
0.08
%
 
 

 
0.22
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2018
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Business loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
6

 
$
309

 
4

 
$
1,204

 
5

 
$
931

 
15

 
$
2,444

Franchise
1

 
5,680

 

 

 
1

 
190

 
2

 
5,870

Commercial owner occupied
1

 
343

 

 

 
5

 
812

 
6

 
1,155

SBA
3

 
524

 

 

 
3

 
2,626

 
6

 
3,150

Real estate loans
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Multi-family
1

 
14

 

 

 

 

 
1

 
14

One-to-four family
1

 
30

 
1

 
9

 
1

 
6

 
3

 
45

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
3

 
146

 
1

 
29

 

 

 
4

 
175

Total
16

 
$
7,046

 
6

 
$
1,242

 
15

 
$
4,565

 
37

 
$
12,853

Delinquent loans to total loans held for investment
 
 
0.08
%
 
 

 
0.02
%
 
 

 
0.05
%
 
 

 
0.15
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

64


Nonperforming Assets
 
Nonperforming assets consist of loans on which we have ceased accruing interest (nonaccrual loans), troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”), OREO and other repossessed assets owned. Nonaccrual loans consisted of all loans 90 days or more past due and on loans where, in the opinion of management, there is reasonable doubt as to the collection of principal and interest. A “restructured loan” is one where the terms of the loan were renegotiated to provide a reduction or deferral of interest or principal because of deterioration in the financial position of the borrower. We had $3.0 million of troubled debt restructurings at December 31, 2019, consisting of a commercial line of credit to a quick serve restaurant franchisee of $1.7 million and a commercial line of credit to a designer and distributor of automobile wheels of $1.3 million with their terms being modified to extend the maturity date for 24 months or less, compared to no trouble debt restructured loans at December 31, 2018. These two TDRs were both current and on accrual status as of December 31, 2019. The modification did not have an impact on the recorded investments of the loans.

At December 31, 2019, we had $9.1 million of nonperforming assets, which consisted of $8.7 million of nonperforming loans and $441,000 of OREO. At December 31, 2018, we had $5.0 million of nonperforming assets, which consisted of $4.9 million of nonperforming loans, $147,000 of OREO and $13,000 of other repossessed assets owned. The increase in nonperforming loans in 2019 compared to 2018 was primarily due to the addition of two commercial and industrial lines of credit totaling $3.0 million to a single borrower in the trucking business. It is our policy to take appropriate, timely and aggressive action when necessary to resolve nonperforming assets. When resolving problem loans, it is our policy to determine collectability under various circumstances, which are intended to result in our maximum financial benefit. We accomplish this by working with the borrower to bring the loan current, selling the loan to a third party, or by foreclosing upon and selling the asset.

At December 31, 2019, OREO consisted of a two-office condo property with a carrying value of $126,000 and a retail warehouse property with a carrying value of $315,000, compared to one land property with a carrying value of $147,000 at December 31, 2018. Properties acquired through or in lieu of foreclosure are recorded at fair value less cost to sell. The Company generally obtains an appraisal and/or a market evaluation on all OREO prior to obtaining possession. After foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management as needed due to changing market conditions or factors specifically attributable to the property’s condition. If the carrying value of the property exceeds its fair value, less estimated cost to sell, the asset is written down and a charge to operations is recorded.


65


The following table sets forth composition of nonperforming assets at the date indicated: 
 
At December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
(dollars in thousands)
Nonperforming Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
4,637

 
$
931

 
$
1,160

 
$
250

 
$
463

Franchise

 
190

 

 

 
1,630

Commercial owner occupied

 
599

 
97

 
436

 
536

SBA
2,519

 
2,739

 
1,201

 
316

 

Total business loans
7,156

 
4,459

 
2,458

 
1,002

 
2,629

Real estate loans
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial non-owner occupied
1,128

 

 

 

 
1,164

One-to-four family
366

 
398

 
817

 
124

 
155

Land

 

 
9

 
15

 
21

Total real estate loans
1,494

 
398

 
826

 
139

 
1,340

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans

 

 

 

 
1

Total nonperforming loans
8,650

 
4,857

 
3,284

 
1,141

 
3,970

Other real estate owned
441

 
147

 
326

 
460

 
1,161

Other assets owned

 
13

 

 

 

Total nonperforming assets
$
9,091

 
$
5,017

 
$
3,610

 
$
1,601

 
$
5,131

Allowance for loan losses
$
35,698

 
$
36,072

 
$
28,936

 
$
21,296

 
$
17,317

Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total nonperforming loans, gross
413
%
 
743
%
 
881
%
 
1,866
%
 
436
%
Nonperforming loans as a percent of loans held for investment
0.10

 
0.05

 
0.05

 
0.04

 
0.18

Nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets
0.08

 
0.04

 
0.04

 
0.04

 
0.18



66


Allowance for Loan Losses

The ALLL is established as management’s estimate of probable incurred losses inherent in the loan portfolio and is based on our continual review of the loan portfolio’s credit quality. Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance quarterly to maintain the allowance at levels sufficient to provide for these inherent losses. The ALLL is based upon the total loans evaluated individually and collectively, and is reported as a reduction of loans held for investment. The allowance is increased by a provision for credit losses, which is charged to expense and reduced by charge-offs, net of recoveries.  
 
We separate our assets, largely loans, by type, and we use various loan classifications to segregate the loans into various risk grade categories. We use the various loan classifications as a means of measuring risk for determining the valuation allowance for groups and individual assets at a point in time. Currently, we designate our assets into a category of “Pass,” “Special Mention,” “Substandard,” “Doubtful” or “Loss.” A brief description of these classifications follows:
 
Pass classifications represent loans with a level of credit quality that contains no well-defined deficiencies or weaknesses.
Special Mention loans do not currently expose the Bank to a sufficient risk to warrant classification in one of the adverse categories, but possess correctable deficiencies or potential weaknesses deserving management’s close attention.
Substandard loans are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. These loans are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.  
Doubtful loans have all the weaknesses inherent in substandard loans, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable.
Loss loans are those that are considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as assets is not warranted. Amounts classified as loss are promptly charged off.

Our determination as to the classification of loans and the amount of valuation allowances necessary are subject to review by bank regulatory agencies, which can order a change in a classification or an increase to the allowance. While we believe that an adequate allowance for estimated loan losses has been established, there can be no assurance that our regulators, in reviewing assets including the loan portfolio, will not request us to materially increase our allowance for estimated loan losses, thereby negatively affecting our financial condition and earnings at that time. In addition, actual losses are dependent upon future events and, as such, further increases to the level of allowances for estimated loan losses may become necessary.
 
At December 31, 2019, we had $44.9 million of loans classified as substandard, compared to $61.5 million at December 31, 2018. The decrease was primarily attributable to $34.5 million of substandard loans that have been cured, $9.8 million of payoffs, $3.6 million of loan sold and $1.6 million of charge-offs, partially offset by new additions to substandard loans of $35.1 million during the year. There were no loans classified as doubtful as of December 31, 2019 or 2018.


67


The following tables set forth information concerning substandard and doubtful loans at the dates indicated:
 
At December 31, 2019
 
Substandard
 
Doubtful
 
Gross Balance
 
# of Loans
 
Balance
 
# of Loans
 
(dollars in thousands)
Business loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
15,886

 
42

 
$

 

Franchise
10,833

 
4

 

 

Commercial owner occupied
3,534

 
10

 

 

SBA
8,221

 
47

 

 

Agribusiness
4,496

 
11

 

 

Total business loans
42,970

 
114

 

 

Real estate loans
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Commercial non-owner occupied
1,128

 
2

 

 

Multi-family
216

 
1

 

 

One-to-four family
561

 
5

 

 

Land
17

 
2

 

 

Total real estate loans
1,922

 
10

 

 

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
54

 
10

 

 

Total loans
$
44,946

 
134

 
$

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2018
 
Substandard
 
Doubtful
 
Gross Balance
 
# of Loans
 
Balance
 
# of Loans
 
(dollars in thousands)
Business loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
12,134

 
63

 
$

 

Franchise
190

 
1

 

 

Commercial owner occupied
16,548

 
25

 

 

SBA
6,906

 
34

 

 

Agribusiness
13,164

 
18

 

 

Total business loans
48,942

 
141

 

 

Real estate loans


 


 
 
 
 
Commercial non-owner occupied
5,687

 
4

 

 

Multi-family
662

 
2

 

 

One-to-four family
5,453

 
25

 

 

Farmland
121

 
2

 

 

Land
488

 
4

 

 

Total real estate loans
12,411

 
37

 

 

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
103

 
19

 

 

Total loans
$
61,456

 
197

 
$

 

     

68


In determining the ALLL, we evaluate loan credit losses on an individual basis in accordance with the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 310, and on a collective basis based on FASB ASC 450. For loans evaluated on an individual basis, we analyze the borrower’s creditworthiness, cash flows and financial status, and the condition and estimated value of the collateral. Loans evaluated individually that are deemed to be impaired are separated from our collective credit loss analysis.
 
Unless an individual borrower relationship warrants a separate analysis, the majority of our loans are evaluated for credit losses on a collective basis through a quantitative analysis to arrive at base loss factors that may be adjusted through a qualitative analysis for internally- and externally-identified risks. The adjusted factor is applied against the loan risk category outstanding to determine the appropriate allowance. Potential qualitative adjustments for the following internal and external risk factors include:
 
Internal Factors
 
changes in lending policies and procedures, including underwriting standards and collection, charge-offs and recovery practices;
changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, as well as new types of lending;
changes in the experience, ability and depth of lending management and other relevant staff that may have an impact on our loan portfolio;
changes in the volume and severity of adversely classified or graded loans;
changes in the quality of our loan review system and management oversight; and
the existence and effect of any concentrations of credit and changes in the level of such concentrations.

External Factors
 
changes in national, state or local economic business conditions and developments affecting the collectability of the portfolio, including the condition of various market segments (includes trends in real estate values, economic activity and the interest rate environment);
changes in the value of the underlying collateral for collateral-dependent loans; and
the effect of external factors, such as competition, legal developments and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in our current loan portfolio.

Loans acquired through bank acquisition are recorded at fair value at acquisition date without a carryover of the related ALLL. Purchased credit impaired loans acquired are loans that have evidence of credit deterioration since origination and as to which it is probable at the date of acquisition that the Company will not collect all of principal and interest payments according to the contractual terms. These loans are accounted for under ASC 310-30.

As of December 31, 2019, the ALLL totaled $35.7 million, a decrease of $374,000 from $36.1 million at December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2019, the ALLL as a percent of nonperforming loans was 413%, compared with 743% at December 31, 2018.

At December 31, 2019, the ALLL as a percent of loans held for investment was 0.41%, unchanged from 0.41% at December 31, 2018. Loans acquired from acquisitions were recorded with an average fair value discount of 0.47% and 0.69% at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. At December 31, 2019, management deems the ALLL to be sufficient to provide for probable incurred losses within the loan portfolio.


69


The following table sets forth the activity in the Company’s ALLL for the periods indicated:
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
(dollars in thousands)
Allowance for Loan Losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
$
36,072

 
$
28,936

 
$
21,296

 
$
17,317

 
$
12,200

Provision for loan losses
7,135

 
8,156

 
8,640

 
8,776

 
6,425

Charge-offs:
 

 


 


 


 


Business loans
 

 


 


 


 


Commercial and industrial
2,318

 
1,411

 
1,344

 
2,802

 
484

Franchise
2,531

 

 

 
980

 
764

Commercial owner occupied
125

 
33

 

 
329

 

SBA
2,238

 
102

 
8

 
980

 

Real Estate loans
 

 


 


 


 


Commercial non-owner occupied
625

 

 

 

 
116

One-to-four family

 

 
10

 
151

 
16

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
16

 
409

 

 

 

Total charge-offs
$
7,853

 
$
1,955

 
$
1,362

 
$
5,242

 
$
1,380

Recoveries:
 

 


 


 


 


Business loans
 

 


 


 


 


Commercial and industrial
$
189

 
$
698

 
$
94

 
$
177

 
$
47

Franchise
18

 

 

 

 

Commercial owner occupied
46

 
47

 
105

 
25

 

SBA
78

 
169

 
127

 
193

 
8

Real Estate loans
 

 


 


 


 


Commercial non-owner occupied

 

 

 
21

 
3

One-to-four family
2

 
13

 
35

 
25

 
13

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
11

 
8

 
1

 
4

 
1

Total recoveries
344

 
935

 
362

 
445

 
72

Net loan charge-offs
7,509

 
1,020

 
1,000

 
4,797

 
1,308

Balance at end of period
$
35,698

 
$
36,072

 
$
28,936

 
$
21,296

 
$
17,317

Ratios
 

 


 


 


 


Net charge-offs to average total loans, net
0.09
%
 
0.01
%
 
0.02
%
 
0.17
%
 
0.06
%
Allowance for loan losses to loans held for investment
0.41
%
 
0.41
%
 
0.47
%
 
0.66
%
 
0.77
%
 

70


The following table sets forth the Company’s ALLL and the percent of gross loans to total gross loans in each of the categories listed and the allowance as a percentage of the loan category balance at the dates indicated:
 
 
At December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Balance at End of Period Applicable to
 
Amount
 
% of Loans in Category to Total Loans
 
Allowance as a % of Loan Category Balance
 
Amount
 
% of Loans in Category to Total Loans
 
Allowance as a % of Loan Category Balance
 
Amount
 
% of Loans in Category to Total Loans
 
Allowance as a % of Loan Category Balance
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Business loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
 
$
11,334

 
14.5
%
 
0.90
%
 
$
10,821

 
15.4
%
 
0.79
%
 
$
9,721

 
17.5
%
 
0.89
%
Franchise
 
6,408

 
10.5

 
0.70

 
6,500

 
8.7

 
0.85

 
5,797

 
10.7

 
0.88

Commercial owner occupied
 
1,923

 
19.2

 
0.11

 
1,386

 
19.0

 
0.08

 
767

 
20.8

 
0.06

SBA
 
4,479

 
2.0

 
2.55

 
4,288

 
2.2

 
2.21

 
2,890

 
3.0

 
1.56

Agribusiness
 
2,523

 
1.4

 
1.97

 
3,283

 
1.6

 
2.37

 
1,291

 
1.9

 
1.11

Real estate loans
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial non-owner occupied
 
1,899

 
23.7

 
0.09

 
1,604

 
22.6

 
0.08

 
1,266

 
20.0

 
0.10

Multi-family
 
729

 
18.1

 
0.05

 
725

 
17.4

 
0.05

 
607

 
12.8

 
0.08

One-to-four family
 
655

 
2.9

 
0.26

 
805

 
4.0

 
0.23

 
803

 
4.4

 
0.30

Construction
 
3,809

 
4.7

 
0.93

 
5,166

 
5.9

 
0.99

 
4,569

 
4.6

 
1.62

Farmland
 
858

 
2.0

 
0.49

 
503

 
1.7

 
0.33

 
137

 
2.3

 
0.09

Land
 
675

 
0.4

 
2.17

 
772

 
0.5

 
1.66

 
993

 
0.5

 
3.18

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
 
406

 
0.6

 
0.80

 
219

 
1.0

 
0.24

 
95

 
1.5

 
0.10

Total
 
$
35,698

 
100.0
%
 
0.41
%
 
$
36,072

 
100.0
%
 
0.41
%
 
$
28,936

 
100.0
%
 
0.47
%


71


 
 
At December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
Balance at End of Period Applicable to
 
Amount
 
% of Loans in Category to Total Loans
 
Allowance as a % of Loan Category Balance
 
Amount
 
% of Loans in Category to Total Loans
 
Allowance as a % of Loan Category Balance
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Business Loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
 
$
6,362

 
17.4
%
 
1.13
%
 
$
3,449

 
13.7
%
 
1.11
%
Franchise
 
3,845

 
14.1

 
0.84

 
3,124

 
14.5

 
0.95

Commercial owner occupied
 
1,193

 
14.0

 
0.26

 
1,870

 
13.0

 
0.63

SBA
 
1,039

 
3.0

 
1.17

 
1,500

 
2.8

 
2.79

Warehouse facilities
 

 

 

 
759

 
6.3

 
0.53

Real estate Loans
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial non-owner occupied
 
1,715

 
18.1

 
0.29

 
2,048

 
18.7

 
0.49

Multi-family
 
2,927

 
21.3

 
0.42

 
1,583

 
19.0

 
0.37

One-to-four family
 
365

 
3.1

 
0.36

 
698

 
3.5

 
0.87

Construction
 
3,632

 
8.3

 
1.35

 
2,030

 
7.5

 
1.20

Farmland
 

 

 

 

 

 

Land
 
198

 
0.6

 
1.00

 
233

 
0.8

 
1.27

Consumer Loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
 
20

 
0.1

 
0.49

 
23

 
0.2

 
0.45

Total
 
$
21,296

 
100.0
%
 
0.66
%
 
$
17,317

 
100.0
%
 
0.77
%
 
The following table sets forth the ALLL amounts calculated by the categories listed at the dates indicated:
 
 
At December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Balance at End of Period Applicable to
 
Amount
 
% of
Allowance
 to Total
 
Amount
 
% of
Allowance
to Total
 
Amount
 
% of
Allowance
to Total
 
Amount
 
% of
Allowance
to Total
 
Amount
 
% of
Allowance
to Total
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Allocated allowance
 
$
35,698

 
100.0
%
 
$
35,488

 
98.4
%
 
$
28,881

 
99.8
%
 
$
21,046

 
98.8
%
 
$
16,586

 
95.9
%
Specific allowance
 

 

 
584

 
1.6

 
55

 
0.2

 
250

 
1.2

 
731

 
4.1

Total
 
$
35,698

 
100.0
%
 
$
36,072

 
100.0
%
 
$
28,936

 
100.0
%
 
$
21,296

 
100.0
%
 
$
17,317

 
100.0
%


72


Deposits

At December 31, 2019, total deposits were $8.90 billion, an increase of $240.2 million, or 2.8%, from December 31, 2018. The increase in deposits in 2019 included increases in noninterest bearing checking of $361.9 million, money market and savings of $181.1 million and interest-bearing checking of $59.9 million, partially offset by a decrease in time deposits of $362.8 million. The increase in deposits during 2019 was primarily due to organic non-maturity deposit growth of $603.0 million. This strong inflow of non-maturity deposits enabled the Company to run off higher cost retailed and brokered time deposits during the year. The total end-of-period weighted average interest rate of total deposits was 0.53% and 0.63% at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
    
The following table sets forth the average balance of deposit accounts and the weighted average rates paid for the periods indicated:
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
Average
Balance
 
Average
Yield/Cost
 
Average
Balance
 
Average
Yield/Cost
 
Average
Balance
 
Average
Yield/Cost
 
(dollars in thousands)
Deposits
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Noninterest bearing checking
$
3,564,809

 
%
 
$
2,909,588

 
%
 
$
1,758,730

 
%
Interest bearing checking
549,221

 
0.43

 
438,698

 
0.27

 
293,450

 
0.12

Money market
3,046,593

 
0.93

 
2,624,106

 
0.75

 
1,701,209

 
0.40

Savings
242,127

 
0.16

 
241,686

 
0.15

 
189,408

 
0.13

Retail certificates of deposit
1,017,445

 
1.75

 
897,033

 
1.22

 
556,121

 
0.61

Wholesale/brokered certificates of deposit
389,978

 
2.43

 
334,728

 
1.68

 
227,822

 
1.16

Total deposits
$
8,810,173

 
0.66
%
 
$
7,445,839

 
0.51
%
 
$
4,726,740

 
0.28
%
     
At December 31, 2019, we had $868.5 million in certificates of deposit accounts with balances of $100,000 or more, and we had $547.5 million in certificates of deposit accounts with balances of $250,000 or more with the maturity distribution as follows:
 
 
At December 31, 2019
 
 
$100,000 through $250,000
 
Greater than $250,000
 
Total
Maturity Period
 
Amount
 
Weighted
Average Rate
 
% of Total
Deposits
 
Amount
 
Weighted
Average Rate
 
% of Total
Deposits
 
Amount
 
Weighted
Average Rate
 
% of Total
Deposits
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Certificates of deposit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months or less
 
$
128,637

 
1.67
%
 
1.45
%
 
$
379,867

 
1.74
%
 
4.27
%
 
$
508,504

 
1.72
%
 
5.71
%
Over three months through 6 months
 
113,682

 
1.84

 
1.28

 
67,725

 
2.06

 
0.76

 
181,407

 
1.92

 
2.04

Over 6 months through 12 months
 
49,813

 
1.38

 
0.56

 
53,265

 
1.68

 
0.60

 
103,078

 
1.53

 
1.16

Over 12 months
 
28,810

 
1.39

 
0.32

 
46,654

 
1.78

 
0.52

 
75,464

 
1.63

 
0.85

Total
 
$
320,942

 
1.66
%
 
3.61
%
 
$
547,511

 
1.77
%
 
6.15
%
 
$
868,453

 
1.73
%
 
9.76
%


73


Borrowings  

Borrowings represent a secondary source of funds for our lending and investing activities. The Company has a variety of borrowing relationships that it can draw upon to fund its activities. At December 31, 2019, total borrowings amounted to $732.2 million, a decrease of $45.8 million, or 5.9%, from December 31, 2018. The decrease in borrowings at December 31, 2019 from December 31, 2018 was primarily related to a decrease of $150.6 million in FHLB advances, partially offset by a net increase of $104.8 million in subordinated notes and debentures, after giving effect to our subordinated note offering in May 2019 and our subordinated debenture redemptions during 2019. At December 31, 2019, total borrowings represented 6.2% of total assets and had an end-of-period weighted average rate of 2.77%, compared with 6.8% of total assets at a weighted average rate of 3.01% at December 31, 2018.

FHLB Advances 

The FHLB system functions as a source of credit to financial institutions that are members. Advances are secured by certain real estate loans, investment securities and the capital stock of the FHLB owned by the Company. Subject to the FHLB’s advance policies and requirements, these advances can be requested for any business purpose in which the Company is authorized to engage. In granting advances, the FHLB considers a member’s creditworthiness and other relevant factors. The Company has a line of credit with the FHLB, which provides for advances totaling up to 40% of its assets, equating to a credit line of $4.72 billion as of December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2019, we had borrowing capacity of $3.35 billion with the FHLB. At December 31, 2019, the Company had $26.0 million in term FHLB advances and $491.0 million in overnight FHLB advances, compared to $161.5 million in term FHLB advances, which matured within one year, and $506.0 million in overnight FHLB advances at December 31, 2018. The FHLB advances at December 31, 2019 were collateralized by real estate loans with an aggregate balance of $3.90 billion. With this pledged collateral, the Company has additional available advances of $2.24 billion as of December 31, 2019.
 
Other Borrowings

The Company maintains lines of credit to purchase federal funds totaling $193.0 million with eight correspondent banks and has access through the FRB discount window to borrow $1.1 million, based upon current pledged investment security collateral, to be utilized as business needs dictate. Federal funds purchased are short-term in nature and utilized to meet short-term funding needs. 

Beginning the first quarter of 2019, the Bank no longer had HOA reverse repurchase agreements and unpledged all the supporting investment securities. The Company did not sell any securities under such agreements to repurchase throughout 2019.
 
Subordinated Indentures

At December 31, 2019, total subordinated indentures, consisting of subordinated notes and junior subordinated debentures, amounted to $215.1 million with a weighted interest rate of 5.37%, compared to $110.3 million with a weighted interest rate of 6.04% at December 31, 2018. The increase of $104.8 million, or 95.03%, is primarily driven by the issuance of $125.0 million subordinated notes in May 2019 partially offset by the redemptions of junior subordinated debentures totaling $18.6 million during 2019. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, outstanding subordinated notes were $207.2 million and $84.5 million, respectively. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, junior subordinated debentures to affiliated trusts in connection with the issuance of trust preferred securities by such trusts were $7.6 million and $25.0 million, respectively.
    
    

74


Under the Dodd-Frank Act, trust preferred securities issued before May 19, 2010 by bank holding companies with assets of less than $15 billion as of December 31, 2009 (and who continue to have less than $15 billion in assets) are permitted to be included as additional Tier 1 capital under the regulatory capital rules. Once the Company’s total assets exceed the $15 billion threshold, which would occur after the consummation of the pending Opus acquisition, these junior subordinated debentures will no longer qualify as Tier 1 capital and instead qualify as Tier 2 capital for regulatory capital purposes. Qualifying subordinated notes are included in Tier 2 capital.

For additional information, see Note 13 to Consolidated Financial Statements included Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Company’s borrowed funds at or for the years ended on the dates indicated:
 
 
At or For Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
FHLB Advances
 
 
 
 
 
Balance outstanding at end of year
$
517,026

 
$
667,606

 
$
490,148

Weighted average interest rate at end of year
1.69
%
 
2.51
%
 
1.49
%
Average balance outstanding
$
404,959

 
$
529,278

 
$
290,839

Weighted average interest rate during the year
2.43
%
 
2.06
%
 
1.19
%
Maximum amount outstanding at any month-end during the year
$
1,091,596

 
$
883,612

 
$
490,148

Other Borrowings
 
 
 

 
 

Balance outstanding at end of year
$

 
$
75

 
$
46,139

Weighted average interest rate at end of year
%
 
0.01
%
 
2.02
%
Average balance outstanding
$
230

 
$
29,193

 
$
50,866

Weighted average interest rate during the year
0.63
%
 
1.69
%
 
1.86
%
Maximum amount outstanding at any month-end during the year
$
10,000

 
$
52,091

 
$
52,996

Subordinated Indentures
 
 
 

 
 

Balance outstanding at end of year
$
215,145

 
$
110,313

 
$
105,123

Weighted average interest rate at end of year
5.37
%
 
6.04
%
 
5.60
%
Average balance outstanding
$
183,382

 
$
107,732

 
$
81,466

Weighted average interest rate during the year
5.82
%
 
6.23
%
 
5.80
%
Maximum amount outstanding at any month-end during the year
$
233,119

 
$
110,313

 
$
105,123

Total Borrowings
 
 
 

 
 

Balance outstanding at end of year
$
732,171

 
$
777,994

 
$
641,410

Weighted average interest rate at end of year
2.77
%
 
3.01
%
 
2.21
%
Average balance outstanding
$
588,571

 
$
666,250

 
$
423,248

Weighted average interest rate during the year
3.48
%
 
2.71
%
 
2.16
%
Maximum amount outstanding at any month-end during the year
$
1,211,954

 
$
994,816

 
$
648,267


Stockholders’ Equity
 
At December 31, 2019, our stockholders’ equity amounted to $2.01 billion, compared with $1.97 billion at December 31, 2018. The increase of $42.9 million, or 2%, is primarily due to net income in 2019 of $159.7 million and comprehensive income of $27.1 million, partially offset by $100.0 million in stock repurchases and $53.9 million dividends paid on common stock.
 

75


Liquidity
 
Our primary sources of funds are deposits, principal and interest payments on loans, FHLB advances and other borrowings, principal and interest payments on loans and income from investments. While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans are a predictable source of funds, deposit flows and loan prepayments are greatly influenced by general interest rates, economic conditions and competition. We seek to maintain a level of liquid assets to ensure a safe and sound operation. Our liquid assets are comprised of cash and unpledged investments. As part of our daily monitoring, we calculate a liquidity ratio by dividing the sum of cash balances plus unpledged securities by the sum of deposits that mature in one year or less plus transaction accounts and FHLB advances. At December 31, 2019, our liquidity ratio was 17.08%, compared with 12.38% at December 31, 2018.
 
We believe our level of liquid assets is sufficient to meet current anticipated funding needs. At December 31, 2019, liquid assets of the Company represented approximately 13.3% of total assets, compared to 9.8% at December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2019, the Company had eight unsecured lines of credit with other correspondent banks to purchase federal funds totaling $193.0 million and access through the Federal Reserve Bank discount window to borrow $3.3 million, as business needs dictate. We also have a line of credit with the FHLB allowing us to borrow up to 40% of the Bank’s total assets. At December 31, 2019, we had a borrowing capacity of $3.35 billion, based on collateral pledged at the FHLB, with $517 million outstanding in FHLB borrowing. The FHLB advance line is collateralized by eligible loans. At December 31, 2019, we had approximately $3.90 billion of collateral pledged to secure FHLB borrowings.
 
At December 31, 2019, the Company’s loan to deposit and borrowing ratio was 90.6%, compared with 93.7% at December 31, 2018. The decrease was primarily associated with our deposits and borrowings increasing at a faster rate relative to our loans during the period. Certificates of deposit, which are scheduled to mature in one year or less from December 31, 2019, totaled $1.11 billion. We expect to retain a substantial portion of the maturing certificates of deposit at maturity.
 
The Bank has a policy in place that permits the purchase of brokered funds, in an amount not to exceed 15% of total deposits, or 12% of total assets, as a secondary source for funding. At December 31, 2019, the Company had $74.4 million, or 0.6% of total assets, in brokered time deposits. At December 31, 2018, the Company had $401.6 million, or 3.5% of total assets, in brokered time deposits.
 
The Corporation is a corporate entity separate and apart from the Bank that must provide for its own liquidity. The Corporation’s primary sources of liquidity are dividends from the Bank. There are statutory and regulatory provisions that limit the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to the Corporation. Management believes that such restrictions will not have a material impact on the ability of the Corporation to meet its ongoing cash obligations. The Corporation maintained a line of credit with Wells Fargo Bank established in June of 2017, with availability of $15.0 million that matured in June 2019. A new $15.0 million line of credit was established with US Bank on July 1, 2019 and will expire on July 1, 2020. These lines of credit provide an additional source of liquidity at the Corporation level and had no outstanding balance at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.  

The Financial Code provides that a bank may not make a cash distribution to its stockholders in excess of the lesser of a (i) bank’s retained earnings; or (ii) bank’s net income for its last three fiscal years, less the amount of any distributions made by the bank or by any majority-owned subsidiary of the bank to the stockholders of the bank during such period. However, a bank may, with the approval of the DBO, make a distribution to its stockholders in an amount not exceeding the greatest of (x) its retained earnings; (y) its net income for its last fiscal year; or (z) its net income for its current fiscal year. In the event that the DBO determines that the stockholders’ equity of a bank is inadequate or that the making of a distribution by the bank would be unsafe or unsound, the DBO may order the bank to refrain from making a proposed distribution. Under these provisions, the amount available for distribution from the Bank to the Corporation was approximately $318.2 million at December 31, 2019.


76


During 2019, the Corporation declared and paid dividends of $53.9 million, or $0.88 per share on its common stock. On January 21, 2020, the Corporation’s board of directors declared a $0.25 per share dividend, payable on February 14, 2020 to shareholders of record on February 3, 2020, a $0.03, or 13.6%, increase over the prior quarter’s $0.22 per share dividend paid. The Corporation anticipates that it will continue to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future, although there can be no assurance that payment of such dividends will continue or that they will not be reduced. The payment and amount of future dividends remain within the discretion of the Corporation’s board of directors and will depend on the Corporation’s operating results and financial condition, regulatory limitations, tax considerations and other factors. Interest on deposits will be paid prior to payment of dividends on the Corporation’s common stock.

During 2019, the Company repurchased 3,364,761 shares for aggregate cash consideration $100 million, or $29.69 per share, the maximum dollar value of common stock repurchases approved by the Board of Directors. The Company’s third stock repurchase program has been completed. On December 2, 2019, the Corporation’s board of directors approved a new stock repurchase program, which authorized the Corporation to repurchase up to $100 million of its common stock. As of December 31, 2019, the Corporation did not repurchase any shares under the newly-approved stock repurchase program. The stock repurchase program may be limited or terminated at any time without prior notice. See Part II, Item 5 - Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities for additional information.

Capital Resources
 
The Corporation and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can trigger certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Bank’s assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.
 
At December 31, 2019, the Bank’s leverage capital was $1.32 billion and risk-weighted capital was $1.36 billion. At December 31, 2018, the Bank’s leverage capital was $1.19 billion and risk-weighted capital was $1.23 billion. Pursuant to regulatory guidelines under prompt corrective action rules, a bank must have total risk-weighted capital of 10.00% or greater, Tier 1 risk-weighted capital of 8.00% or greater, common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 6.5% and Tier I capital to adjusted tangible assets of 5.00% or greater to be considered “well capitalized.” At December 31, 2019, the Bank’s total risk-weighted capital ratio was 13.83%, Tier 1 risk-weighted capital ratio was 13.43%, common equity Tier 1 risk-weighted capital ratio was 13.43% and Tier I capital to adjusted tangible assets capital ratio was 12.39%.

At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, Tier 1 capital included $7.6 million and $25.0 million, respectfully, of trust preferred debt securities net of fair value adjustments. Tier 2 capital included $195.2 million at December 31, 2019 and $84.5 million December 31, 2018 of eligible subordinated notes. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 hereof for a discussion of the Bank’s and Corporation’s capital ratios.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments
 
The Company enters into contractual obligations in the normal course of business as a source of funds for its asset growth and to meet required capital needs. The following schedule summarizes maturities and payments due on our obligations and commitments, excluding accrued interest, at the date indicated:


77


 
At December 31, 2019
 
Less than 1 year
 
1 - 3 years
 
3 - 5 years
 
More than 5 years
 
Total
 
(dollars in thousands)
Contractual Obligations
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
FHLB advances
$
496,000

 
$
21,026

 
$

 
$

 
$
517,026

Subordinated debentures

 

 
59,432

 
155,713

 
215,145

Certificates of deposit
949,790

 
87,799

 
9,644

 
609

 
1,047,842

Operating leases
10,281

 
29,801

 
13,491

 
1,092

 
54,665

Total contractual cash obligations
$
1,456,071

 
$
138,626

 
$
82,567

 
$
157,414

 
$
1,834,678


Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
The following table summarizes our contractual commitments with off-balance sheet risk by expiration period at the date indicated:
 
At December 31, 2019
 
Less than 1 year
 
1 - 3 years
 
3 - 5 years
 
More than 5 years
 
Total
 
(dollars in thousands)
Other Unused Commitments
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
810,886

 
$
208,959

 
$
34,064

 
$
48,412

 
$
1,102,321

Construction
127,760

 
109,864

 

 
10,003

 
247,627

Agribusiness and farmland
40,062

 
9,260

 

 
3,479

 
52,801

Home equity lines of credit
6,648

 
4,559

 
9,467

 
53,811

 
74,485

Standby letters of credit
11,788

 

 

 

 
11,788

All other
28,913

 
22,217

 
11,980

 
27,560

 
90,670

Total commitments
$
1,026,057

 
$
354,859

 
$
55,511

 
$
143,265

 
$
1,579,692


See Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 hereof for narrative disclosure regarding off-balance sheet arrangements.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices
 
Our consolidated financial statements and related data presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States which require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollar amounts (except with respect to securities classified as available-for-sale which are carried at market value) without considering the changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of our operations. Unlike most industrial companies, substantially all of our assets and liabilities are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates have a greater impact on our performance than do the effects of general levels of inflation. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or to the same magnitude as the price of goods and services.

Impact of New Accounting Standards
 
See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 hereof for a listing of recently issued accounting pronouncements and the impact of them on the Company.


78


ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Asset/Liability Management and Market Risk

Market risk is the risk of loss in value or reduced earnings from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. The Bank’s market risk arises primarily from interest rate risk in our lending and deposit taking activities. Interest rate risk primarily occurs to the degree that the Bank’s interest-bearing liabilities reprice or mature on a different basis and frequency than its interest-earning assets. The Bank’s earnings depend primarily on net interest income, which is the difference between the interest and dividends earned on interest-earning assets and the interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities. Therefore, the Bank actively monitors and manages its portfolios to limit the adverse effects on net interest income and economic value due to changes in interest rates.

The Asset/Liability Committee is responsible for implementing the Bank’s interest rate risk management policy established by the board of directors that sets forth limits of acceptable changes in net interest income (“NII”) and economic value of equity (“EVE”) due to specified changes in interest rates. The Asset/Liability Committee reviews, among other items, economic conditions, the interest rate outlook, the demand for loans, the availability of deposits and borrowings, and the Bank’s current operating results, liquidity, capital and interest rate exposure. Based on these reviews, the Asset/Liability Committee formulates strategies to implement the objectives set forth in the business plan while complying with the net interest income and economic value limits approved by the Bank’s board of directors.

Interest Rate Risk Management

The principal objective of the Company’s interest rate risk management function is to maintain an interest rate risk profile close to the desired risk profile in light of the interest rate outlook. The Bank measures the interest rate risk included in the major balance sheet portfolios and compares the current risk profile to the desired risk profile and to policy limits set by the board of directors. Management then implements strategies consistent with the desired risk profile. Asset duration will be compared to liability, with the desired mixed of fixed and floating rate determined based upon the Company’s risk profile and outlook. Interest rates on adjustable rate loans are mainly tied to the Prime rate. Likewise, the Bank seeks to raise non-maturity deposits. Management often implements these strategies through pricing actions. Finally, management structures its security portfolio and borrowings to offset some of the interest rate sensitivity created by the re-pricing characteristics of customer loans and deposits.

Management monitors asset and liability maturities and repricing characteristics on a regular basis and evaluates its interest rate risk as it relates to operational strategies. Management analyzes potential strategies for their impact on the interest rate risk profile. Each quarter the Corporation’s board of directors reviews the Bank’s asset/liability position, including simulations showing the impact on the Bank’s economic value of equity in various interest rate scenarios. Interest rate moves, up or down, may subject the Bank to interest rate spread compression, which adversely impacts its net interest income. This is primarily due to the lag in repricing of the indices, to which adjustable rate loans and mortgage-backed securities are tied, as well as their repricing frequencies. Furthermore, large rate moves show the impact of interest rate caps and floors on adjustable rate transactions. This is partly offset by lags in repricing for deposit products. The extent of the interest rate spread compression depends on the direction and severity of interest rate moves and features in the Bank’s product portfolios.

The Company’s interest rate sensitivity is monitored by management through the use of both a simulation model that quantifies the estimated impact to earnings (“Earnings at Risk”) for a twelve and twenty-four month period, and a model that estimates the change in the Company’s EVE under alternative interest rate scenarios, primarily instantaneous parallel interest rate shifts in 100 basis point increments. The simulation model estimates the impact on NII from changing interest rates on interest earning assets and interest expense paid on interest bearing liabilities. The EVE model computes the net present value of equity by discounting all expected cash flows on assets and liabilities under each rate scenario. For each scenario, the EVE is the present value of all assets less the present value of all liabilities. The EVE ratio is defined as the EVE divided by the market value of assets within the same scenario.

79


The following table shows the projected net interest income and net interest margin of the Company at December 31, 2019 and 2018, assuming instantaneous parallel interest rate shifts in the first period:
December 31, 2019
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
Earnings at Risk
 
Projected Net Interest Margin
Change in Rates (Basis Points)
 
$ Amount
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
Rate %
 
% Change
200
 
457,284

 
2,271

 
0.5

 
4.33
 
0.5

100
 
456,115

 
1,101

 
0.2

 
4.32
 
0.2

Static
 
455,013

 

 

 
4.31
 

-100
 
452,307

 
(2,706
)
 
(0.6
)
 
4.29
 
(0.6
)
-200
 
444,418

 
(10,595
)
 
(2.3
)
 
4.21
 
(2.3
)

The following table shows the EVE and projected change in the EVE of the Company at December 31, 2019 and 2018, assuming various non-parallel interest rate shifts over a twelve month period:
 
December 31, 2019
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
Economic Value of Equity
 
 EVE as % of market value of portfolio assets
Change in Rates (Basis Points)
 
$ Amount
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
EVE Ratio
 
% Change
200
 
2,084,891

 
106,053

 
5.4

 
19.77
 
1.9

100
 
2,042,116

 
63,277

 
3.2

 
18.91
 
1.0

Static
 
1,978,839

 

 

 
17.90
 

-100
 
1,884,247

 
(94,591
)
 
(4.8
)
 
16.63
 
(1.3
)
-200
 
1,728,146

 
(250,693
)
 
(12.7
)
 
14.86
 
(3.0
)

Based on the modeling of the impact on earnings and EVE from changes in interest rates, the Company’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates is low for rising rates. Both the Earnings at Risk and the EVE increase as rates rise. It is important to note the above tables are forecasts based on several assumptions and that actual results may vary. The forecasts are based on estimates of historical behavior and assumptions by management that may change over time and may turn out to be different. Factors affecting these estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to (1) competitor behavior, (2) economic conditions both locally and nationally, (3) actions taken by the Federal Reserve, (4) customer behavior and (5) Management’s responses. Changes that vary significantly from the assumptions and estimates may have significant effects on the Company’s earnings and EVE.

The Company does not have any direct market risk from foreign exchange or commodity exposures.


80


ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA


Pacific Premier Bancorp. Inc.
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements



81



 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM



Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries
Irvine, California


Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition of Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”).

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by COSO.

Basis for Opinions

The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.


82


Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (ii) involved especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Allowance for Loan Losses

As described in Notes 1 and 5 to the financial statements, the Company has a gross loan portfolio of $8.7 billion and a related allowance for loan losses of $35.7 million at December 31, 2019. The Company’s allowance for loan losses (ALLL) covers estimated credit losses on individually evaluated loans that are determined to be impaired as well as estimated probable incurred losses inherent in the remainder of the loan portfolio. At December 31, 2019 the full ALLL of $35.7 million is attributed to estimated probable incurred losses in the remainder of the loan portfolio. The ALLL is prepared using the information provided by the Company’s credit review process together with data from peer institutions and economic information gathered from published sources. The calculation of the probable incurred losses inherent in the remainder of the loan portfolio involves significant estimates and subjective assumptions, which require a high degree of judgment relating to the composition of the portfolio, actual loss experience, industry charge-off experience, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors, and how those items impact probable incurred losses inherent within the loan portfolio. Changes in these assumptions could have a material effect on the Company’s financial results.

In calculating the probable incurred losses inherent in the remainder of the loan portfolio, the loan portfolio is segmented into groups of loans with similar risk characteristics. Each segment possesses varying degrees of risk based on, among other things, the type of loan, the type of collateral, and the sensitivity of the borrower or industry to changes in external factors such as economic conditions. An estimated loss rate calculated using the Company’s historical loss rates adjusted for current portfolio trends, economic conditions, and other relevant internal and external factors, is applied to each segment’s aggregate loan balances.

The Company’s base ALLL factors are determined by management using the Company’s annualized actual trailing charge-off data over a full credit cycle adjusted for the loss emergence period, or the estimate of the average time-period from initial loss indication to the actual loss recorded on a loan. Further adjustments to those base factors are made for relevant internal and external factors.


83


For loans risk graded as watch or worse, progressively higher potential loss factors are applied based on migration analysis of risk grading and net charge-offs.

We identified auditing the probable incurred losses inherent in the remainder of the loan portfolio as a critical audit matter because it involved especially subjective auditor judgment. Auditing this calculation involved especially subjective auditor judgment as to:
the assignment of risk grades to loans based upon their underlying characteristics,
the determination of the loss emergence period for each segment,
the use of data from peer institutions to supplement their historical loss experience, and
the qualitative analysis of adjustments for current portfolio trends, economic conditions, and other relevant internal and external factors.

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:

Testing the design and operating effectiveness of controls over the estimate of the probable incurred losses inherent in the remainder of the loan portfolio, including controls addressing:
Assignment of risk grades to loans within the portfolio.
Completeness and accuracy of the data used as the basis for the historical loss rate calculation.
Mathematical accuracy of the model used to calculate the historical loss rates and resulting allowance for loan losses.
Management’s judgments over the appropriateness of the loss emergence periods applied to each segment and the use of data from peer institutions in their loss rate calculations, as needed.
Management’s judgments over the adequacy of the internal and external factors used to adjust the historical loss factors.

Substantively testing management’s process, including evaluating their judgments and assumptions, for developing the estimate of the probable incurred losses in the remainder of the loan portfolio which included:
Testing the appropriateness and consistency of management’s judgments related to the assignment of risk grades to loans within the portfolio.
Testing the completeness and accuracy of data used as the basis for the loss rate calculation.
Testing the mathematical accuracy of the model used to calculate the adjusted loss rates and resulting allowance for loan losses.
Testing the reasonableness of management’s judgments over the appropriateness of the loss emergence periods applied to each segment and the use of data from peer institutions in the loss rate calculations, as needed.
Testing the reasonableness of management’s judgments over the adequacy of the internal and external factors used to adjust to the historical loss factors and whether such adjustments were applied consistently period over period.
Analytically evaluating the estimate of probable incurred losses based on the trends within the loan portfolio year over year for reasonableness.


/s/ Crowe LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.

Los Angeles, California
February 28, 2020


84


PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(dollars in thousands, except share data)
 
 
At December 31,
ASSETS
 
2019
 
2018
Cash and due from banks
 
$
135,847

 
$
125,036

Interest-bearing deposits with financial institutions
 
191,003

 
78,370

Cash and cash equivalents
 
326,850

 
203,406

Interest-bearing time deposits with financial institutions
 
2,708

 
6,143

Investments held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value of $38,760 and $44,672 as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)
 
37,838

 
45,210

Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value
 
1,368,384

 
1,103,222

FHLB, FRB and other stock, at cost
 
93,061

 
94,918

Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value
 
1,672

 
5,719

Loans held for investment
 
8,722,311

 
8,836,818

Allowance for loan losses
 
(35,698
)
 
(36,072
)
Loans held for investment, net
 
8,686,613

 
8,800,746

Accrued interest receivable
 
39,442

 
37,837

Other real estate owned
 
441

 
147

Premises and equipment
 
59,001

 
64,691

Deferred income taxes, net
 

 
15,627

Bank owned life insurance
 
113,376

 
110,871

Intangible assets
 
83,312

 
100,556

Goodwill
 
808,322

 
808,726

Other assets
 
154,992

 
89,568

Total assets
 
$
11,776,012

 
$
11,487,387

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 

 
 

LIABILITIES
 
 

 
 

Deposit accounts:
 
 
 
 
Noninterest-bearing checking
 
$
3,857,660

 
$
3,495,737

Interest-bearing:
 
 
 
 
Checking
 
586,019

 
526,088

Money market/savings
 
3,406,988

 
3,225,849

Retail certificates of deposit
 
973,465

 
1,009,066

Wholesale/brokered certificates of deposit
 
74,377

 
401,611

Total interest-bearing
 
5,040,849

 
5,162,614

Total deposits
 
8,898,509

 
8,658,351

FHLB advances and other borrowings
 
517,026

 
667,681

Subordinated debentures
 
215,145

 
110,313

Deferred income taxes, net
 
1,371

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
131,367

 
81,345

Total liabilities
 
9,763,418

 
9,517,690

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 

 
 

Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding
 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2019 and 2018; 59,506,057 shares and 62,480,755 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
 
586

 
617

Additional paid-in capital
 
1,594,434

 
1,674,274

Retained earnings
 
396,051

 
300,407

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
21,523

 
(5,601
)
Total stockholders’ equity
 
2,012,594

 
1,969,697

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$
11,776,012

 
$
11,487,387

 
 
 
 
 
Accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

85


PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
INTEREST INCOME
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans
 
$
485,663

 
$
415,410

 
$
251,027

Investment securities and other interest-earning assets
 
40,444

 
33,013

 
18,978

Total interest income
 
526,107

 
448,423

 
270,005

INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 

 
 

 
 

Deposits
 
58,297

 
37,653

 
13,371

FHLB advances and other borrowings
 
9,829

 
11,343

 
4,411

Subordinated debentures
 
10,680

 
6,716

 
4,721

Total interest expense
 
78,806

 
55,712

 
22,503

Net interest income before provision for credit losses
 
447,301

 
392,711

 
247,502

Provision for credit losses
 
5,719

 
8,253

 
8,432

Net interest income after provision for credit losses
 
441,582

 
384,458

 
239,070

NONINTEREST INCOME
 
 

 
 

 
 

Loan servicing fees
 
1,840

 
1,445

 
787

Service charges on deposit accounts
 
5,769

 
5,128

 
3,273

Other service fee income
 
1,438

 
902

 
1,847

Debit card interchange fee income
 
3,004

 
4,326

 
2,043

Earnings on BOLI
 
3,486

 
3,427

 
2,279

Net gain from sales of loans
 
6,642

 
10,759

 
12,468

Net gain from sales of investment securities
 
8,571

 
1,399

 
2,737

Other income
 
4,486

 
3,641

 
5,680

Total noninterest income
 
35,236

 
31,027

 
31,114

NONINTEREST EXPENSE
 
 

 
 

 
 

Compensation and benefits
 
139,187

 
129,886

 
84,138

Premises and occupancy
 
30,758

 
24,544

 
14,742

Data processing
 
12,301

 
13,412

 
8,206

Other real estate owned operations, net
 
160

 
4

 
72

FDIC insurance premiums
 
764

 
3,002

 
2,151

Legal, audit and professional expense
 
12,869

 
10,040

 
6,101

Marketing expense
 
6,402

 
6,151

 
4,436

Office, telecommunications and postage expense
 
4,826

 
5,312

 
3,117

Loan expense
 
4,079

 
3,370

 
3,299

Deposit expense
 
15,266

 
9,916

 
6,240

Merger-related expense
 
656

 
18,454

 
21,002

CDI amortization
 
17,245

 
13,594

 
6,144

Other expense
 
14,552

 
12,220

 
8,310

Total noninterest expense
 
259,065

 
249,905

 
167,958

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
 
217,753

 
165,580

 
102,226

Income tax
 
58,035

 
42,240

 
42,126

NET INCOME
 
$
159,718

 
$
123,340

 
$
60,100

EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
 
$
2.62

 
$
2.29

 
$
1.59

Diluted
 
$
2.60

 
$
2.26

 
$
1.56

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
 
60,339,714

 
53,963,047

 
37,705,556

Diluted
 
60,692,281

 
54,613,057

 
38,511,261

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

86


PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Net Income
 
$
159,718

 
$
123,340

 
$
60,100

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities arising during the period, net of income tax (benefit) (1)
 
33,226

 
(5,019
)
 
4,937

Reclassification adjustment for net gain on sale of securities included in net income, net of income tax (2)
 
(6,102
)
 
(1,079
)
 
(1,801
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
 
27,124

 
(6,098
)
 
3,136

Comprehensive income, net of tax
 
$
186,842

 
$
117,242

 
$
63,236

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Income tax (benefit) on unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities was $13.4 million for 2019, ($2.2 million) for 2018 and $3.1 million for 2017.
(2) Income tax on reclassification adjustment for net gain on sale of securities included in net income was $2.5 million for 2019, $320,000 for 2018 and $936,000 for 2017.
 
Accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.



87


PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
Common
 Stock
Shares
 
Common Stock
 
Additional
 Paid-in Capital
 
Accumulated Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balance at December 31, 2016
 
27,798,283

 
$
274

 
$
345,138

 
$
117,049

 
$
(2,721
)
 
$
459,740

Net Income
 

 

 

 
60,100

 

 
60,100

Other comprehensive income
 

 

 

 

 
3,136

 
3,136

Share-based compensation expense
 

 

 
5,809

 

 

 
5,809

Issuance of restricted stock, net
 
166,397

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of common stock
 
17,954,274

 
181

 
709,196

 

 

 
709,377

Goodwill adjustment
 

 

 
500

 

 

 
500

Restricted stock surrendered and canceled
 
(21,537
)
 

 
(1,258
)
 

 

 
(1,258
)
Exercise of stock options, net
 
347,633

 
3

 
4,589

 

 

 
4,592

Balance at December 31, 2017
 
46,245,050

 
$
458

 
$
1,063,974

 
$
177,149

 
$
415

 
$
1,241,996

Net Income
 

 

 

 
123,340

 

 
123,340

Other comprehensive loss
 

 

 

 

 
(6,098
)
 
(6,098
)
Share-based compensation expense
 

 

 
9,033

 

 

 
9,033

Issuance of restricted stock, net
 
270,571

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of common stock
 
15,758,039

 
158

 
601,013

 

 

 
601,171

Restricted stock surrendered and canceled
 
(33,148
)
 

 
(1,669
)
 

 

 
(1,669
)
Exercise of stock options, net
 
240,243

 
1

 
1,923

 

 

 
1,924

Reclassification of certain tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
 

 

 

 
(82
)
 
82

 

Balance at December 31, 2018
 
62,480,755

 
$
617

 
$
1,674,274

 
$
300,407

 
$
(5,601
)
 
$
1,969,697

Net Income
 

 

 

 
159,718

 

 
159,718

Other comprehensive income
 

 

 

 

 
27,124

 
27,124

Repurchase and retirement of common stock
 
(3,364,761
)
 
(33
)
 
(89,887
)
 
(10,080
)
 

 
(100,000
)
Cash dividends declared ($0.88 per share)
 

 

 

 
(53,867
)
 

 
(53,867
)
Dividend equivalents declared ($0.88 per restricted stock units)
 

 

 
127

 
(127
)
 

 

Share-based compensation expense
 

 

 
10,528

 

 

 
10,528

Issuance of restricted stock, net
 
316,754

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted stock surrendered and canceled
 
(139,569
)
 

 
(3,285
)
 

 

 
(3,285
)
Exercise of stock options, net
 
212,878

 
2

 
2,677

 

 

 
2,679

Balance at December 31, 2019
 
59,506,057

 
$
586

 
$
1,594,434

 
$
396,051

 
$
21,523

 
$
2,012,594

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

88


PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
159,718

 
$
123,340

 
$
60,100

Adjustments to net income:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization expense
 
9,815

 
7,773

 
4,888

Provision for credit losses
 
5,719

 
8,253

 
8,432

Share-based compensation expense
 
10,528

 
9,033

 
5,809

(Gain) loss on sale and disposal of premises and equipment
 
(42
)
 
108

 
234

Gain on sale of or write down of other real estate owned
 
(55
)
 
(355
)
 
(46
)
Net amortization on securities
 
4,745

 
6,900

 
7,601

Net accretion of discounts/premiums for acquired loans and deferred loan fees/costs
 
(27,378
)
 
(21,401
)
 
(16,172
)
Gain on sale of investment securities available-for-sale
 
(8,571
)
 
(1,399
)
 
(2,737
)
Originations of loans held for sale
 
(98,232
)
 
(147,740
)
 
(135,348
)
Proceeds from the sales of and principal payments from loans held for sale
 
111,952

 
184,220

 
132,320

Gain on sale of loans
 
(6,642
)
 
(10,759
)
 
(12,468
)
Deferred income tax expense
 
7,496

 
9,275

 
16,420

Change in accrued expenses and other liabilities, net
 
(6,265
)
 
14,157

 
5,193

Income from bank owned life insurance, net
 
(2,689
)
 
(2,774
)
 
(1,842
)
Amortization of core deposit intangible
 
17,245

 
13,594

 
6,144

Change in accrued interest receivable and other assets, net
 
5,346

 
4,266

 
(9,157
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
182,690

 
196,491

 
69,371

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net increase in interest-bearing time deposits with financial institutions
 
3,435

 
490

 
(2,689
)
Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned
 
405

 
1,058

 
507

Loan originations and payments, net
 
266,632

 
(340,023
)
 
(601,617
)
Proceeds from loans held for sale previously classified as portfolio loans
 
86,313

 
125,485

 
103,049

Purchase of loans held for investment
 
(222,701
)
 
(61,562
)
 
(13,582
)
Purchase of held-to-maturity securities
 

 
(29,002
)
 
(10,914
)
Proceeds from prepayments and maturities of held-to-maturity securities
 
7,318

 
1,785

 
1,166

Purchase of securities available-for-sale
 
(889,516
)
 
(462,534
)
 
(306,527
)
Proceeds from prepayments and maturities of securities available-for-sale
 
114,520

 
131,268

 
74,891

Proceeds from sale or maturity of securities available-for-sale
 
551,784

 
407,004

 
268,596

Proceeds from the sale of premises and equipment
 
14,751

 

 
18

Proceeds from bank owned insurance death benefit
 
405

 
1,284

 
198

Purchases of premises and equipment
 
(18,834
)
 
(10,295
)
 
(4,183
)
Change in FHLB, FRB, and other stock, at cost
 
2,306

 
(27,086
)
 
(12,838
)
Funding of CRA investments
 
(15,069
)
 
(21,936
)
 
(6,189
)
Cash acquired in acquisitions, net
 

 
146,571

 
225,945

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(98,251
)
 
(137,493
)
 
(284,169
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net increase in deposit accounts
 
240,158

 
65,553

 
187,901

Net change in short-term borrowings
 
(115,075
)
 
(108,064
)
 
61,120

Proceeds from FHLB borrowings
 

 

 
12,012

Repayment of FHLB borrowings
 
(35,500
)
 
(10,500
)
 
(9,262
)
Redemption of junior subordinated debt securities
 
(18,558
)
 

 

Proceeds from issuance of subordinated debt, net
 
122,453

 

 

Cash dividends paid
 
(53,867
)
 

 

Repurchase and retirement of common stock
 
(100,000
)
 

 

Proceeds from exercise of stock options
 
2,679

 
1,924

 
4,592

Restricted stock surrendered and canceled
 
(3,285
)
 
(1,669
)
 
(1,258
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
39,005

 
(52,756
)
 
255,105

Net change in cash and cash equivalents
 
123,444

 
6,242

 
40,307

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
 
203,406

 
197,164

 
156,857

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
 
$
326,850

 
$
203,406

 
$
197,164

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest paid
 
$
79,386

 
$
53,960

 
$
21,777

Income taxes paid
 
52,093

 
32,296

 
18,846

Noncash investing activities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Loans held for sale transfer to loans held for investment
 
$
89,259

 
$
133,499

 
$
99,066

Transfers from loans to other real estate owned
 
644

 
15

 
121

Recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets
 
(52,701
)
 

 

Recognition of operating lease liabilities
 
52,701

 

 

Assets acquired (liabilities assumed) in acquisitions (See Note 27):
 
 

 
 

Investment securities
 

 
392,858

 
442,923

Loans
 

 
2,352,717

 
2,427,589

Core deposit intangible
 

 
71,943

 
39,703

Deferred income tax
 

 
4,383

 
14,959

Goodwill
 

 
313,043

 
391,070

Fixed assets
 

 
9,122

 
42,097

Other assets
 

 
97,246

 
74,379

Deposits
 

 
(2,506,929
)
 
(2,752,501
)
Other borrowings
 

 
(254,923
)
 
(180,186
)
Other liabilities
 

 
(24,859
)
 
(16,395
)
Common Stock and additional paid-in capital
 

 
(601,172
)
 
(716,421
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


89


PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
  
Note 1 - Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business. Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation organized in 1997 (the “Corporation”), is a California-based bank holding company that owns 100% of the capital stock of Pacific Premier Bank, a California-chartered commercial bank (the “Bank,” and together with the Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company”), the Corporation’s principal operating subsidiary. The Bank was incorporated and commenced operations in 1983.
 
The principal business of the Company is attracting deposits from the general public and investing those deposits, together with funds generated from operations and borrowings, primarily in business loans and real estate property loans. At December 31, 2019, the Company had 41 depository branches located in the counties of Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, California, as well as Pima and Maricopa Counties, Arizona, Clark County, Nevada and Clark County, Washington. The Company is subject to competition from other financial institutions. The Company is subject to the regulations of certain governmental agencies and undergoes periodic examinations by those regulatory authorities.
 
Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary the Bank. The Company accounts for its investments in its wholly-owned special purpose entities, Heritage Oaks Capital Trust II and Santa Lucia Bancorp (CA) Capital Trust under the equity method whereby the subsidiary’s net earnings are recognized in the Company’s Statement of Income and the investment in these entities is included in Other Assets on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. The Company is organized and operates as a single reporting segment, principally engaged in the commercial banking business. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
Basis of Financial Statement Presentation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (‘’U.S. GAAP’’). Certain amounts in the financial statements and related footnote disclosures for the prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation with no impact to previously reported net income or stockholders’ equity.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates may change as new information is obtained.

The following discussion provides a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies:
Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash balances due from banks and federal funds sold. Interest bearing deposits with financial institutions represent primarily cash held at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. At December 31, 2019, there were no cash reserves required by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve”) for depository institutions based on the amount of deposits held. The Company maintains amounts due from banks that exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.


90


Securities. The Company has established written guidelines and objectives for its investing activities. At the time of purchase, management designates the security as either held to maturity, available-for-sale or held for trading based on the Company’s investment objectives, operational needs and intent. The investments are monitored to ensure that those activities are consistent with the established guidelines and objectives.
 
Securities Held-to-Maturity. Investments in debt securities that management has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are reported at cost and adjusted for periodic principal payments and the amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, which are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the period of time remaining to investment’s maturity.
 
Securities Available-for-Sale. Investments in debt securities that management has no immediate plan to sell, but which may be sold in the future, are carried at fair value. Premiums and discounts are amortized using the interest method over the remaining period to the call date for premiums or contractual maturity for discounts and, in the case of mortgage-backed securities, the estimated average life, which can fluctuate based on the anticipated prepayments on the underlying collateral of the securities. Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of tax, are recorded in a separate component of stockholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses on the sales of securities are determined on the specific identification method, recorded on a trade date basis based on the amortized cost basis of the specific security and are included in noninterest income as net gain (loss) on investment securities.
 
Impairment of Investments. Quarterly, the Company evaluates investment securities in an unrealized loss position for OTTI. In determining whether a security’s decline in fair value is other-than-temporary, the Company considers a number of factors including: (i) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value of the investment has been less than its amortized cost; (ii) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer; (iii) the intent and ability of the Company to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery in fair value; (iv) downgrades in credit ratings; and (v) general market conditions which reflect prospects for the economy as a whole, including interest rates and sector credit spreads. If it is determined that an OTTI exists, and either the Company intends to sell the investment or it is likely the Company will be required to sell the investment before its anticipated recovery, the total amount of the OTTI, which is measured as the amount by which the investment’s amortized cost exceeds its fair value, is recognized in current period earnings. If the Company has the intent and ability to hold the investment and it is not more likely than not it will be required to sell the investment prior to an anticipated recovery of its amortized cost basis, the Company records in current period earnings the portion of OTTI deemed to be credit related, while the remaining portion of OTTI deemed to be non-credit related is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. Credit related OTTI losses are determined through a discounted cash flow analysis, which incorporates assumptions concerning the estimated timing and amounts of expected cash flows. Non-credit related OTTI losses result from other factors such as changes in interest rates and general market conditions. The presentation of OTTI in the consolidated financial statements is on a gross basis with a reduction in the gross amount for the portion of the loss deemed non-credit related, which is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax.
 
Federal Home Loan Bank Stock. The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Members are required to own a certain amount of stock based on the level of borrowings and other factors, and may invest in additional amounts. FHLB stock is carried at cost and periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value. Both cash and stock dividends are recorded as a component of interest income.

Federal Reserve Bank Stock. The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (the “FRB”). FRB stock is carried at cost, classified as a restricted security, and periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value. Both cash and stock dividends are recorded as a component of interest income.

Loans Held for Sale. Loans that the Company has the intent to sell prior to maturity have been designated as held for sale at origination and are recorded at lower of cost or fair value. Gains or losses are recognized upon the sale of the loans on a specific identification basis.

91


Loan Servicing Assets. Servicing assets are related to SBA loans sold and are recognized at the time of sale when servicing is retained with the income statement effect recorded in gains on sales of SBA loans. Servicing assets are initially recorded at fair value based on the present value of the contractually specified servicing fee, net of estimated servicing costs, over the estimated life of the loan, using a discount rate. The Company’s servicing costs approximates the industry average servicing costs of approximately 40 basis points. The servicing assets are subsequently amortized into noninterest income in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying loans. The Company periodically evaluates servicing assets for impairment based upon the fair value of the assets as compared to their carrying amount.

The Company typically sells the guaranteed portion of SBA loans and retains the unguaranteed portion (“retained interest”). A portion of the premium on sale of SBA loans is recognized as gain on sale of loans at the time of the sale by allocating the carrying amount between the asset sold and the retained interest, based on their relative fair values. The remaining portion of the premium is recorded as a discount on the retained interest and is amortized over the remaining life of the loan as an adjustment to yield. The retained interest, net of any discount, are included in loans held for investment—net of allowance for loan losses in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition.

Loans Held for Investment. Loans held for investment are loans the Company has the ability and intent to hold until their maturity. The loans are carried at amortized cost, net of discounts and premiums on purchased loans, deferred loan origination fees and costs and ALLL. Net deferred loan origination fees and costs on loans are amortized or accreted using the interest method over the expected life of the loans. Amortization of deferred loan fees and costs are discontinued for loans placed on nonaccrual. Any remaining deferred fees or costs and prepayment fees associated with loans that payoff prior to contractual maturity are included in loan interest income in the period of payoff. Loan commitment fees received to originate or purchase a loan are deferred and, if the commitment is exercised, recognized over the life of the loan using the interest method as an adjustment of yield or, if the commitment expires unexercised, recognized as income upon expiration of the commitment.
 
Interest on loans is recognized using the interest method and is only accrued if deemed collectible. Loans for which the accrual of interest has been discontinued are designated as nonaccrual loans. The accrual of interest on loans is discontinued when principal or interest is past due 90 days based on contractual terms of the loan or when, in the opinion of management, there is reasonable doubt as to collection of principal and or interest. When loans are placed on nonaccrual status, all interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed against current period interest income. Interest income generally is not recognized on nonaccrual loans unless the likelihood of further loss is remote. Interest payments received on nonaccrual loans are applied as a reduction to the loan principal balance. Interest accruals are resumed on such loans only when they are brought current with respect to interest and principal and when, in the judgment of management, the loans are estimated to be fully collectible as to all principal and interest.
 
A loan is considered to be impaired when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due (principal and interest) according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The Company reviews loans for impairment when the loan is classified as substandard or worse, delinquent 90 days, determined by management to be collateral dependent, or when the borrower files bankruptcy or is granted concession which qualifies as a troubled debt restructuring. Measurement of impairment is based on the loan’s expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, measured by reference to an observable market value, if one exists, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is deemed collateral dependent. The Company measures impairment on a loan-by-loan basis. Loans for which impairment has been determined are generally charged-off at such time the loan is classified as a loss.
 

92


Allowance for Loan Losses. The Company maintains an ALLL at a level deemed appropriate by management to provide for known or probable incurred losses in the portfolio as of the date of the consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company has an internal loan review system and loss allowance methodology designed to provide for the detection of problem loans and an appropriate level of allowance to cover loan losses. Management’s determination of the adequacy of the ALLL is based on an evaluation of the composition of the portfolio, actual loss experience, industry charge-off experience on income property loans, current economic conditions and other relevant factors in the area in which the Company’s lending and real estate activities are based. These factors may affect the borrower’s ability to pay as well as the value of the underlying collateral securing loans. The allowance is calculated by applying loss factors to loans held for investment according to loan type and loan credit classification. The loss factors are based primarily upon the Bank’s historical loss experience and industry charge-off experience, and are evaluated on a quarterly basis.

At December 31, 2019, the following portfolio segments have been identified. Segments are groupings of similar loans at a level, for which the Company has adopted systematic methods of documentation for determining its allowance for loan losses:

Commercial and industrial (including Franchise) - C&I loans are secured by business assets including inventory, receivables and machinery and equipment to businesses located generally in our primary market area. Loan types includes revolving lines or credit, term loans, seasonal loans and loans secured by liquid collateral such as cash deposits or marketable securities. HOA credit facilities are included in C&I loans. We also issue letters of credit on behalf of our customers. Risk arises primarily due to the difference between expected and actual cash flows of the borrowers. In addition, the recoverability of the Company’s investment in these loans is also dependent on other factors primarily dictated by the type of collateral securing these loans. The fair value of the collateral securing these loans may fluctuate as market conditions change. In the case of loans secured by accounts receivable, the recovery of the Company’s investment is dependent upon the borrower’s ability to collect amounts due from its customers.

Commercial real estate (including owner occupied and non-owner occupied) - CRE loans include various type of loans which the Company holds real property as collateral. CRE lending activity is typically restricted to owner occupied or non-owner occupied. The primary risks of real estate loans include the borrower’s inability to pay, material decreases in the value of the real estate that is being held as collateral and significant increases in interest rates, which may make the real estate loan unprofitable to the borrower. Real estate loans may be more adversely affected by conditions in the real estate markets or in the general economy.

SBA - We are approved to originate loans under the SBA’s Preferred Lenders Program (“PLP”). The PLP lending status affords us a higher level of delegated credit autonomy, translating to a significantly shorter turnaround time from application to funding, which is critical to our marketing efforts. We originate loans nationwide under the SBA’s 7(a), SBAExpress, International Trade and 504(a) loan programs, in conformity with SBA underwriting and documentation standards. SBA loans are similar to commercial business loans, but have additional credit enhancement provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration, for up to 85.00% of the loan amount for loans up to $150,000 and 75.00% of the loan amount for loans of more than $150,000. The Company originates SBA loans with the intent to sell the guaranteed portion into the secondary market on a quarterly basis.

Agribusiness and farmland - We originate loans to the agricultural community to fund seasonal production and longer term investments in land, buildings, equipment, and livestock. Agribusiness loans are for the purpose of financing agricultural production to finance crops and livestock. Farmland loans include all land known to be used or usable for agricultural purposes, such as crop and livestock production and is secured by the land and improvements thereon.


93


Multi-family - Loans secured by multi-family and commercial real estate properties generally involve a greater degree of credit risk than one-to-four family loans. Because payments on loans secured by multi-family and commercial real estate properties are often dependent on the successful operation or management of the properties, repayment of these loans may be subject to adverse conditions in the real estate market or the economy.

One-to-four family - Although we do not originate, through our bank acquisitions, we have acquired first lien single family loans. The primary risks of one-to-four family loans include the borrower’s inability to pay, material decreases in the value of the real estate that is being held as collateral and significant increases in interest rates, which may make loans unprofitable.

Construction and land - We originate loans for the construction of one-to-four family and multi-family residences and CRE properties in our primary market area. We concentrate our efforts on single homes and small infill projects in established neighborhoods where there is not abundant land available for development. Construction loans are considered to have higher risks due to construction completion and timing risk, and the ultimate repayment being sensitive to interest rate changes, government regulation of real property and the availability of long-term financing. Additionally, economic conditions may impact the Company’s ability to recover its investment in construction loans, as adverse economic conditions may negatively impact the real estate market, which could affect the borrower’s ability to complete and sell the project. Additionally, the fair value of the underlying collateral may fluctuate as market conditions change. We occasionally originate land loans located predominantly in California for the purpose of facilitating the ultimate construction of a home or commercial building. The primary risks include the borrower’s inability to pay and the inability of the Company to recover its investment due to a decline in the fair value of the underlying collateral.

Consumer loans - In addition to consumer loans acquired through our various bank acquisitions, we originate a limited number of consumer loans, generally for banking customers only, which consist primarily of home equity lines of credit, savings account secured loans and auto loans. Repayment of these loans is dependent on the borrower’s ability to pay and the fair value of the underlying collateral.

Various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Company’s ALLL and loan review process. Such agencies may require the Company to recognize additions to the allowance based on judgments different from those of management.  

In the opinion of management, and in accordance with the credit loss allowance methodology, the present allowance is considered adequate to absorb probable incurred credit losses as of the date of these consolidated financial statements. Additions and reductions to the allowance are reflected in current operations. Charge-offs recorded against the allowance, for all loan segments, are made when specific loans are considered uncollectible or are transferred to other real estate owned and the fair value of the property is less than the Company’s recorded investment in the loan. Recoveries of amounts previously charged-off are credited to the allowance.
 
Although management uses the best information available to make these estimates, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary due to economic, operating, regulatory and other conditions that may extend beyond the Company’s control.


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Purchased Credit Impaired Loans. As part of business acquisitions, the Bank acquires certain loans that have shown evidence of credit deterioration since origination, referred to as PCI loans. These loans are recorded at the fair value, such that no ALLL is established upon their acquisition. The Company has elected to account for PCI loans individually. The Company estimates the amount and timing of expected cash flows for each purchased loan, and the expected cash flows in excess of the fair value is recorded as interest income over the remaining life of the loan and is referred to as the accretable yield. The excess of the loan’s contractual principal and interest over expected cash flows is not recorded and is referred to as the non-accretable difference. Periodically, the Company performs an evaluation of expected cash flows for PCI loans. Subsequent decreases in expected future cash flows beyond the expected cash flows as of the acquisition date are accounted for by establishing an ALLL for PCI loans through a charge to the provision for loan losses. If subsequent reforecasts indicate there has been a probable and significant increase in the level of expected future cash flows, the Company first reduces any previously established ALLL for PCI loans and then accounts for the remainder of the increase on a prospective basis through interest income as an adjustment to the accretable yield.
 
Other Real Estate Owned. Real estate properties acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are recorded at fair value, less estimated costs to sell, with any excess loan balance over the fair value of the property charged against the ALLL. The Company obtains an appraisal and/or market valuation on all other real estate owned at the time of possession. After foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management. Any subsequent declines in fair value are recorded as a charge to current period earnings with a corresponding write-down to the asset. All legal fees and direct costs, including foreclosure and other related costs are expensed as incurred.
 
Premises and Equipment. Premises and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from forty years for buildings, seven years for furniture, fixtures and equipment, and three years for computer and telecommunication equipment. The cost of leasehold improvements is amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the term of the related leases.
 
The Company periodically evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets, such as premises and equipment, to ensure the carrying value has not been impaired. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.
 
Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase. The Company enters into sales of securities under agreement to repurchase. These agreements are treated as financing arrangements and, accordingly, the obligations to repurchase the securities sold are reflected as liabilities in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The securities collateralizing these agreements are delivered to several major national brokerage firms who arranged the transactions. The securities are reflected as assets in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The brokerage firms may loan such securities to other parties in the normal course of their operations and agree to return the identical security to the Company at the maturity of the agreements.

Bank Owned Life Insurance. BOLI is accounted for using the cash surrender value method and is recorded at its realizable value as an asset on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The Bank is the beneficiary under each policy. Changes in the cash surrender value of BOLI and the death benefits of an insured individual covered by these policies, after distribution to the insured’s beneficiaries, if any, are recorded as tax-exempt noninterest income on the consolidated statements of income.


95


Goodwill and Core Deposit Intangible. Goodwill is generally determined as the excess of the fair value of the consideration transferred, plus the fair value of any noncontrolling interests in the acquiree, over the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events and circumstances exist that indicate the necessity for such impairment tests to be performed. The Company typically performs its annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values. As of December 31, 2019, goodwill is the only intangible asset with an indefinite life recorded in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition.
 
Core deposit intangible assets arising from whole bank acquisitions are amortized on either an accelerated basis, reflecting the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible asset is consumed or otherwise used up, or on a straight-line amortization method over their estimated useful lives, which ranges from six to eleven years.

Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments. Financial instruments include off-balance sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit, issued to meet customer financing needs. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.
 
Subordinated Debentures. Long-term borrowings are carried at cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, which are recognized in interest expense using the interest method. Debt issuance costs are recognized in interest expense using the interest method over the life of the instrument.

Stock-Based Compensation. The Company issues various forms of stock-based compensation awards annually to officers and directors of the Company, including stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units. The related compensation costs are recognized in the income statement based on the grant-date fair value over the period they are expected to vest, net of estimates for forfeitures. Estimates for forfeitures are based on the Company’s historical experience for each award type. A Black-Scholes model is utilized to estimate the fair value of stock options. The Black-Scholes model uses certain assumptions to determine grant-date fair value such as: expected volatility, expected term of the option, expected risk-free rate of interest and expected dividend yield on the Corporation’s common stock. The market price of the Corporation’s common stock at the grant-date is used for restricted stock awards in determining the grant-date fair value for those awards.

Restricted stock units are granted to officers of the Company, and represent stock-based compensation awards that when ultimately settled, result in the payment of cash or the issuance of shares of the Corporation’s common stock to the grantee. As with other stock-based compensation awards, compensation cost for restricted stock units is recognized over the period in which the awards are expected to vest. Certain of the Corporation’s restricted stock units contain vesting conditions which are based on pre-determined performance targets. The level at which the associated performance targets are achieved can impact the ultimate settlement of the award with the grantee and thus the level of compensation expense ultimately recognized. Certain of these awards contain a market condition whereby the vesting of the award is based on the Company’s performance, such as total shareholder return, relative to its peers over a specified period of time. The grant date fair value of market based restricted stock units is determined through the use of an independent third party which employs the use of a Monte Carlo simulation. The Monte Carlo simulation estimates grant date fair value using input assumptions similar to those used in the Black-Scholes model, however, it also incorporates into the grant date fair value calculation the probability that the performance targets will be achieved. The grant date fair value of restricted stock units that do not contain a market condition for vesting is based on the price of the Corporation’s common stock on the grant date.


96


Income Taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns using the asset liability method. In estimating future tax consequences, all expected future events other than enactments of changes in the tax law or rates are considered. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred tax assets are recognized for temporary differences that will result in deductible amounts in future years and for tax carryforwards if, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, no valuation allowance was deemed necessary against the Company’s deferred tax assets.

A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. The Company recognizes interest and / or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.

Earnings per Share. Earnings per share of common stock is calculated on both a basic and diluted basis, based on the weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding. Basic earnings per share excludes potential dilution from common equivalent shares, such as those associated with stock-based compensation awards, and is computed by dividing net income allocated to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock, such as common equivalent shares associated with stock-based compensation awards, were exercised or converted into common stock that would then share in the net earnings of the Corporation. Potential dilution from common equivalent shares is determined using the treasury stock method, reflecting the potential settlement of stock-based compensation awards resulting in the issuance of additional shares of the Corporation’s common stock. Stock-based compensation awards that would have an anti-dilutive effect have been excluded from the determination of earnings per common share.

Restricted stock awards and restricted stock units are deemed participating securities by the Corporation, and therefore the Corporation computes earnings per common share using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, distributed and undistributed net earnings allocable to participating securities are deducted from net income to determine net income allocable to common shareholders, which is then used in the numerator of both basic and diluted earnings per share calculations. Participating securities are excluded from the denominator of both basic and diluted earnings per common share.

Comprehensive Income. Comprehensive income is reported in addition to net income for all periods presented. Comprehensive income is a more inclusive financial reporting methodology that includes disclosure of other comprehensive income (loss) that historically has not been recognized in the calculation of net income. Unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s available-for-sale investment securities are required to be included in other comprehensive income or loss. Total comprehensive income (loss) and the components of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss are presented in the Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity and Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Loss Contingencies. Loss contingencies, including claims and legal action arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Management does not believe there now are such matters that will have a material effect on the financial statements.


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Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in a separate note. Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Fair value measures are classified according to a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which is based on the observability of inputs used to measure fair value. GAAP requires the Company to maximize the use of observable inputs when measuring fair value. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect these estimates.

Reclassifications. Some items in prior year financial statements were reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Reclassifications had no effect on prior year net income or stockholders’ equity.

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2019

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This Update was issued to increase the transparency and comparability around lease obligations. Previously unrecorded off-balance sheet lease obligations and corresponding rights to use underlying leased assets are now recorded in the consolidated financial statements, accompanied by enhanced qualitative and quantitative disclosures in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. The Update is generally effective for public business entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-08, Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. This Update amends guidance on the amortization period of premiums on certain purchased callable debt securities. The amendments shorten the amortization period of premiums on purchased callable debt securities to the earliest call date. This Update should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings. The effective date of ASU 2017-08 is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s operating results or financial condition.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases and ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements. ASU 2018-10 provides improvements related to ASU 2016-02 to increase stakeholders’ awareness of the amendments to Topic 842 and to expedite the improvements. The amendments affect narrow aspects of the guidance issued in ASU 2016-02. ASU 2018-11 allows entities adopting ASU 2016-02 to choose an additional transition method, under which an entity initially applies the accounting guidance for leases under Topic 842 at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Additionally, ASU 2018-11 allows an entity electing this additional transition method to continue to present comparative period financial statements in accordance with Topic 840 (current U.S. GAAP). ASU 2018-11 also allows lessors to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component if certain conditions are met. The amendments in these updates became effective for annual periods as well as interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018.


98


The Company elected to apply the transition provisions of Topic 842 using the alternative transition method whereby comparative periods are not restated. The Company also elected to adopt the “package” of practical expedients in its transition to Topic 842, as specified in Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 842-10-65. The results of this policy election are that the Company reflected the provisions of Topic 842 in its consolidated financial statements for the first time as of and for the period ended March 31, 2019 (the period of adoption). The Company measured and recorded liabilities to make lease payments as well as right-of-use assets in the period of adoption for leases that existed as of the transition date, and will continue to present all comparative periods under Topic 840. Under this elected transition method, the Company is not required to reassess the following as part of its transition to Topic 842: (1) whether any expired or existing contracts contain leases, (2) lease classifications for any existing or expired leases and (3) initial direct costs for any existing leases. Additionally, the Company elected to apply the use of hindsight in its assessment of the term for its leases upon transition, which allows for consideration of the Company’s option to extend or terminate a lease.
    
The Company adopted the provisions of Topic 842 on January 1, 2019, and in its transition to Topic 842, the Company initially recorded a liability to make future lease payments of approximately $45.7 million and right-of-use assets of $43.8 million. The difference of $1.9 million represents the accounting adjustments previously recorded under Topic 840 and Topic 805, as required by transition guidance in ASC 842-10-65. The Company was not required to record a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as part of its transition to Topic 842. The Company’s evaluation of lease obligations and service agreements under the new standard included an assessment of the appropriate classification and related accounting of each lease agreement, a review of applicability of the new standard to existing service agreements and gathering all essential lease data to facilitate the application of the new standard. The Company’s review indicated that all of its leases are classified as operating leases or short-term leases. In accordance with the provisions of Topic 842, liabilities to make future lease payments and right-of-use are only recorded for leases that are not considered short-term (leases with an original term of greater than 12 months). The Company records expense for its leases on a straight-line basis in accordance with the requirements under Topic 842 for operating leases. The Company’s expense recognition for its operating leases (including short-term leases) under Topic 842 has not differed significantly from that recorded under Topic 840. Right-of-use assets for operating leases are amortized over the lease term, and liabilities to make lease payments are accounted for using the interest method, both in accordance with Topic 842. Please also refer to Note 23 - Leases, for additional information related to the Company’s leases.

Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Effective

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This Update replaces the incurred loss impairment model in current U.S. GAAP with a model that reflects current expected credit losses (“CECL”). The CECL model is applicable to the measurement of credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loan receivables and held-to-maturity debt securities. CECL also requires credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities be measured through an allowance for credit losses when the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. It also applies to off-balance sheet credit exposures. The Update requires that all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date be measured based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Update also requires enhanced disclosure, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures that provide additional information about significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses. For SEC filers that are not smaller reporting companies, such as the Company, the Update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those annual periods.

In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments. This Update was issued as part of an ongoing project on the FASB’s agenda for improving the Codification or correcting for its unintended application, which is specific to Updates: 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, and 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities.

99


The effective date for the amendments will be the same as the effective date in ASU 2016-13. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of this Update on its financial statements and disclosures.

The Company has developed a new expected credit loss estimation model in accordance with ASU 2016-13. The Company’s CECL Committee and related sub-committees and working groups, which collectively are comprised of senior management and staff members from our finance, credit, lending, internal audit, risk management and IT departments have substantially completed cross-functional implementation activities. These activities focused on data capture, model development portfolio segmentation, policies, documentation and disclosure, validation and internal controls. As a result, we have completed our primary CECL model, and are working to refine the remaining facets of the model, which relate to qualitative adjustments. Additionally, the Company has designed controls over the process for estimating expected future credit losses, and is currently working to finalize testing of those controls. We have also completed a validation of our primary CECL model and the documentation review of our end-to-end processes during the fourth quarter of 2019. The Company has completed numerous iterations of model output utilizing data from interim periods starting with the fourth quarter of 2018, as part of the process to test and refine our model.

Depending on the nature of each identified pool of financial assets with similar risk characteristics, the Company is implementing a probability of default (“PD”) and loss given default (“LGD”) discounted cash flow methodology for its commercial based loans and a historical loss-rate methodology for its retail or consumer based loans to estimate expected future credit losses. Additionally, the Company is incorporating reasonable and supportable economic forecasts into the estimate of expected future credit losses which require significant judgment, such as selecting forecast scenarios and related scenario-weighting, as well as determining the appropriate length of the forecast horizon. Management intends to leverage economic projections from a reputable and independent third party to inform and provide its reasonable and supportable economic forecasts. Other internal and external indicators of economic forecasts may also be considered by management when developing the forecast metrics. The duration of the forecast horizon, the reversion period and the economic forecasts that management utilizes, as well as additional internal and external indicators of economic forecasts that management considers, may change over time depending on the nature and composition of our portfolio of financial assets.

The provisions of ASU 2016-13 became effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. Based on our loan portfolio at December 31, 2019 and management’s current expectation of future economic conditions, and certain qualitative adjustments, which we are currently working to refine, the Company believes its cumulative effect adjustment, resulting from the adoption of the new standard, will result in a pre-tax increase in the allowance for credit losses by an amount within a range of $50 million and $60 million. As mentioned, the Company is currently in the process of refining the remaining facets of its CECL model relating to qualitative adjustments, as well as completing the testing of internal controls over the CECL model, and as such, there is no assurance the cumulative effect adjustment to the allowance for credit losses and retained earnings will be within the foregoing range. The Company currently estimates the increase in the allowance for credit losses for loans is attributable primarily to the allocation of an allowance on acquired loans based on the methodology discussed above and secondarily to the incorporation of reasonable and supportable economic forecasts into the estimate of expected future credit losses to our commercial real estate and commercial owner-occupied loan portfolios, which have commercial real estate as the primary collateral source and longer contractual maturities relative to our loan portfolio as a whole. The ACL for held-to-maturity and available-for-sale investment securities upon the adoption of ASU 2016-13 is not material.

In February 2019, the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies approved a final rule modifying their regulatory capital rules and providing an option to phase in over a three-year period the day-one regulatory capital effects of ASU 2016-13. The Company is currently evaluating the day-one regulatory capital effects and phase-in option upon the adoption of ASU 2016-13.


100


In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments in this Update modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement.

The following disclosure requirements for public companies were removed from Topic 820:

The amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy
The policy for timing of transfers between levels
The valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements

The amendments clarify that the measurement uncertainty disclosure is to communicate information about the uncertainty in measurement as of the reporting date.
    
The following disclosure requirements for public companies were added to Topic 820:

The changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period
The range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. For certain unobservable inputs, an entity may disclose other quantitative information (such as the median or arithmetic average) in lieu of the weighted average if the entity determines that other quantitative information would be a more reasonable and rational method to reflect the distribution of unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements

The amendments in this Update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. In addition, an entity may early adopt any of the removed or modified disclosures immediately and delay adoption of the new disclosures until the effective date. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of ASU 2018-13 on its financial statements and disclosures.

In March 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-01, Leases (Topic 842): Codification Improvements. This Update provides clarification on certain aspects of an entity’s implementation of Topic 842 including those that relate to:

(1) Determining the fair value of the underlying asset by lessors that are not manufacturers or dealers. The amendments related to this item carry forward from Topic 840 to Topic 842 an exception that allows lessors who are not manufacturers or dealers to use the cost of the underlying asset as its fair value.

(2) Presentation on the statement of cash flows - sales-type and direct financing leases. The amendments related to this item clarify that all principal payments received on leases by lessors in sales-type or direct financing lease transactions should be reflected in investing activities for entities such as depository and lending institutions within in the scope of Topic 942.

(3) Transition disclosures related to Topic 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections. The amendments related to this item clarify the FASB’s original intent by explicitly providing an exception to the paragraph 250-10-50-3 interim disclosure requirements in the Topic 842 transition disclosure requirements, which would otherwise require interim disclosures after the date of adoption of Topic 842 related to the impacts of the change on: (a) income from continuing operations, (b) net income, (c) any other financial statement line item and (d) any affected per-share amounts.

The amendments in this Update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not believe the effects of this ASU will have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

101


In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which include updates to Topic 740 - Income Taxes. The amendments to this Update include the removal of the following exceptions included in Topic 740:

(1) Exception to the incremental approach for intra-period tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations and income or a gain from other items (for example, discontinued operations or other comprehensive income);

(2) Exception to the requirement to recognize a deferred tax liability for equity method investments when a foreign subsidiary becomes an equity method investment;

(3) Exception to the ability not to recognize a deferred tax liability for a foreign subsidiary when a foreign equity method investment becomes a subsidiary, and

(4) Exception to the general methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period when a year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated loss for the year.

The amendments included in this update also require the following:

(1) Requiring that an entity recognize a franchise tax (or similar tax) that is partially based on income as an income-based tax and account for any incremental amount incurred as a non-income-based tax.

(2) Requiring that an entity evaluate when a step up in the tax basis of goodwill should be considered part of the business combination in which the book goodwill was originally recognized and when it should be considered a separate transaction.

(3) Specifying that an entity is not required to allocate the consolidated amount of current and deferred tax expense to a legal entity that is not subject to tax in its separate financial statements. However, an entity may elect to do so (on an entity-by-entity basis) for a legal entity that is both not subject to tax and disregarded by the taxing authority.

(4) Requiring that an entity reflect the effect of an enacted change in tax laws or rates in the annual effective tax rate computation in the interim period that includes the enactment date.

(5) Making minor Codification improvements for income taxes related to employee stock ownership plans and investments in qualified affordable housing projects accounted for using the equity method.

For public business entities, the Update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of this Update on its consolidated financial statements.



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Note 2 - Regulatory Capital Requirements and Other Regulatory Matters
 
The Corporation and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly additional discretionary, actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Corporation’s and the Bank’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Corporation and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Corporation’s and the Bank’s assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Corporation’s and the Bank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.
 
Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Bank to maintain capital in order to meet certain capital ratios to be considered adequately capitalized or well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. As of the most recent formal notification from the Federal Reserve, the Bank was categorized as “well capitalized.” There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the Bank’s categorization.

Final comprehensive regulatory capital rules for U.S. banking organizations pursuant to the capital framework of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, generally referred to as “Basel III”, became effective for the Company and the Bank on January 1, 2015, subject to phase-in periods for certain of their components and other provisions. The most significant of the provisions of the new capital rules, which apply to the Company and the Bank are as follows: the phase-out of trust preferred securities from Tier 1 capital, the higher risk-weighting of high volatility and past due real estate loans and the capital treatment of deferred tax assets and liabilities above certain thresholds.
    
The most significant of the provisions of the Final Capital Rules, which applied to the Company and the Bank were as follows: the phase-out of trust preferred securities from Tier 1 capital issued by 2013, the higher risk-weighting of high volatility and past due real estate loans and the capital treatment of deferred tax assets and liabilities above certain thresholds. Beginning January 1, 2016, Basel III implemented a requirement for all banking organizations to maintain a capital conservation buffer above the minimum risk-based capital requirements in order to avoid certain limitations on capital distributions, stock repurchases and discretionary bonus payments to executive officers. The capital conservation buffer is exclusively comprised of common equity tier 1 capital, and it applies to each of the three risk-based capital ratios but not to the leverage ratio. The capital conservation buffer increased by 0.625% each year beginning on January 1, 2016, with additional 0.625% increments annually, until fully phased in at 2.50% by January 1, 2019. The net unrealized gain or loss on available-for-sale securities is not included in computing regulatory capital. At December 31, 2019, the Company and Bank are in compliance with the capital conservation buffer requirement and exceeded the minimum common equity Tier 1, Tier 1 and total capital ratio, inclusive of the fully phased-in capital conservation buffer, of 7.0%, 8.5% and 10.5%, respectively.


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As defined in applicable regulations and set forth in the table below, the Corporation and the Bank continue to exceed the regulatory capital minimum requirements and the Bank continues to exceed the “well capitalized” standards and the required conservation buffer at the dates indicated:

 
 
Actual
 
Minimum Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes
 
Minimum Required Plus Capital Conservation Buffer
Fully
Phased-In
(1)
 
Required to be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Regulations
 
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. Consolidated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio
 
$
1,123,740

 
10.54
%
 
$
426,597

 
4.00
%
 
426,597

 
4.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio
 
1,116,185

 
11.35
%
 
442,612

 
4.50
%
 
688,508

 
7.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Tier 1 Capital to Ratio
 
1,123,740

 
11.42
%
 
590,149

 
6.00
%
 
836,045

 
8.50
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Total Capital Ratio
 
1,357,904

 
13.81
%
 
786,866

 
8.00
%
 
1,032,762

 
10.50
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pacific Premier Bank
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Tier 1 Leverage Ratio
 
$
1,321,494

 
12.39
%
 
$
426,592

 
4.00
%
 
426,592

 
4.00
%
 
$
533,240

 
5.00
%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio
 
1,321,494

 
13.43
%
 
442,704

 
4.50
%
 
688,650

 
7.00
%
 
639,461

 
6.50
%
Tier 1 Capital to Ratio
 
1,321,494

 
13.43
%
 
590,272

 
6.00
%
 
836,218

 
8.50
%
 
787,029

 
8.00
%
Total Capital Ratio
 
1,360,471

 
13.83
%
 
787,029

 
8.00
%
 
1,032,975

 
10.50
%
 
983,786

 
10.00
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2018
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. Consolidated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio
 
$
1,112,132

 
10.38
%
 
$
428,751

 
4.00
%
 
428,751

 
4.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio
 
1,087,164

 
10.88
%
 
449,505

 
4.50
%
 
699,230

 
7.00
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Tier 1 Capital to Ratio
 
1,112,132

 
11.13
%
 
599,340

 
6.00
%
 
849,065

 
8.50
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

Total Capital Ratio
 
1,237,315

 
12.39
%
 
799,120

 
8.00
%
 
1,048,845

 
10.50
%
 
N/A

 
N/A

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pacific Premier Bank
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Tier 1 Leverage Ratio
 
$
1,185,544

 
11.06
%
 
$
428,703

 
4.00
%
 
428,703

 
4.00
%
 
$
535,879

 
5.00
%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio
 
1,185,544

 
11.87
%
 
449,481

 
4.50
%
 
699,193

 
7.00
%
 
649,251

 
6.50
%
Tier 1 Capital to Ratio
 
1,185,544

 
11.87
%
 
599,308

 
6.00
%
 
849,020

 
8.50
%
 
799,078

 
8.00
%
Total Capital Ratio
 
1,226,258

 
12.28
%
 
799,078

 
8.00
%
 
1,048,790

 
10.50
%
 
998,847

 
10.00
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) For comparative purpose, fully phased-in capital conservation buffer is presented as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.


104


Note 3 - Investment Securities
 
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities were as follows:
 
 
December 31, 2019
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross Unrealized
Gain
 
Gross Unrealized
Loss
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury
 
$
60,457

 
$
3,137

 
$
(39
)
 
$
63,555

Agency
 
240,348

 
7,686

 
(1,676
)
 
246,358

Corporate debt
 
149,150

 
2,217

 
(14
)
 
151,353

Municipal bonds
 
384,032

 
13,450

 
(184
)
 
397,298

Collateralized mortgage obligation: residential
 
9,869

 
123

 
(8
)
 
9,984

Mortgage-backed securities: residential
 
494,404

 
7,603

 
(2,171
)
 
499,836

Total investment securities available-for-sale
 
1,338,260

 
34,216

 
(4,092
)
 
1,368,384

Investment securities held-to-maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities: residential
 
36,114

 
922

 

 
37,036

Other
 
1,724

 

 

 
1,724

Total investment securities held-to-maturity
 
37,838

 
922

 

 
38,760

Total investment securities
 
$
1,376,098

 
$
35,138

 
$
(4,092
)
 
$
1,407,144


 
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross Unrealized
Gain
 
Gross Unrealized
Loss
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Treasury
 
$
59,688

 
$
1,224

 
$

 
$
60,912

Agency
 
128,958

 
1,631

 
(519
)
 
130,070

Corporate debt
 
104,158

 
291

 
(906
)
 
103,543

Municipal bonds
 
238,914

 
1,941

 
(2,225
)
 
238,630

Collateralized mortgage obligation: residential
 
24,699

 
64

 
(425
)
 
24,338

Mortgage-backed securities: residential
 
554,751

 
1,112

 
(10,134
)
 
545,729

Total investment securities available-for-sale
 
1,111,168

 
6,263

 
(14,209
)
 
1,103,222

Investment securities held-to-maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities: residential
 
43,381

 
148

 
(686
)
 
42,843

Other
 
1,829

 

 

 
1,829

Total investment securities held-to-maturity
 
45,210

 
148

 
(686
)
 
44,672

Total investment securities
 
$
1,156,378

 
$
6,411

 
$
(14,895
)
 
$
1,147,894


 
Unrealized gains and losses on investment securities available-for-sale are recognized in stockholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. At December 31, 2019, the Company had accumulated other comprehensive income of $30.1 million, or $21.5 million net of tax, compared to accumulated other comprehensive loss of $7.9 million, or $5.6 million net of tax, at December 31, 2018

    

105


Beginning the first quarter of 2019, the Bank no longer had HOA reverse repurchase agreements and unpledged all the supporting mortgage-backed securities. At December 31, 2018, mortgage-backed securities with an estimated par value of $20.3 million and a fair value of $20.9 million were pledged as collateral for the Bank’s HOA reverse repurchase agreements, which totaled $75,000. The average balance of repurchase agreement facilities was $15.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2018.

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, there were not holdings of securities of any one issuer, other than the U.S. Government and its agencies, in an amount greater than 10% of shareholders’ equity.
 
The Company reviews individual securities classified as available-for-sale to determine whether a decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis is temporary, meaning: (i) those declines were due to interest rate changes and not to a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuers of those investment securities and (ii) we have the ability to hold those securities until there is a recovery in their values or until their maturity.

If it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to contractual terms of the debt security not impaired at acquisition, an other-than-temporary impairment shall be considered to have occurred. If an OTTI occurs, the cost basis of the security will be written down to its fair value as the new cost basis and the write down accounted for as a realized loss. There were no OTTI for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

The table below shows the number, fair value and gross unrealized holding losses of the Company’s investment securities by investment category and length of time that the securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

 
December 31, 2019
 
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or Longer
 
Total
 
Number
 
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Number
 
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Number
 
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
(dollars in thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury
1

 
$
10,194

 
$
(39
)
 

 
$

 
$

 
1

 
$
10,194

 
$
(39
)
Agency
13

 
102,874

 
(1,340
)
 
9

 
13,514

 
(336
)
 
22

 
116,388

 
(1,676
)
Corporate debt
1

 
1,017

 
(14
)
 

 

 

 
1

 
1,017

 
(14
)
Municipal bonds
12

 
30,541

 
(184
)
 

 

 

 
12

 
30,541

 
(184
)
Collateralized mortgage obligation: residential

 

 

 
1

 
603

 
(8
)
 
1

 
603

 
(8
)
Mortgage-backed securities: residential
18

 
130,014

 
(1,681
)
 
11

 
26,886

 
(490
)
 
29

 
156,900

 
(2,171
)
Total investment securities available-for-sale
45

 
274,640

 
(3,258
)
 
21

 
41,003

 
(834
)
 
66

 
315,643

 
(4,092
)
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities: residential

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total investment securities held-to-maturity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total investment securities
45

 
$
274,640

 
$
(3,258
)
 
21

 
$
41,003

 
$
(834
)
 
66

 
$
315,643

 
$
(4,092
)

106


 
December 31, 2018
 
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or Longer
 
Total
 
Number
 
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Number
 
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Number
 
Fair
Value
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
(dollars in thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury

 
$

 
$

 

 
$

 
$

 

 
$

 
$

Agency
15

 
$
26,229

 
$
(333
)
 
6

 
$
10,434

 
$
(186
)
 
21

 
$
36,663

 
$
(519
)
Corporate debt
9

 
47,805

 
(471
)
 
8

 
19,369

 
(435
)
 
17

 
67,174

 
(906
)
Municipal bonds
60

 
45,083

 
(369
)
 
102

 
69,693

 
(1,856
)
 
162

 
114,776

 
(2,225
)
Collateralized mortgage obligation: residential
1

 
814

 
(1
)
 
8

 
18,104

 
(424
)
 
9

 
18,918

 
(425
)
Mortgage-backed securities: residential
20

 
70,839

 
(435
)
 
120

 
324,864

 
(9,699
)
 
140

 
395,703

 
(10,134
)
Total available-for-sale
105

 
190,770

 
(1,609
)
 
244

 
442,464

 
(12,600
)
 
349

 
633,234

 
(14,209
)
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities: residential
3

 
11,256

 
(81
)
 
3

 
15,741

 
(605
)
 
6

 
26,997

 
(686
)
Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total held-to-maturity
3

 
11,256

 
(81
)
 
3

 
15,741

 
(605
)
 
6

 
26,997

 
(686
)
Total securities
108

 
$
202,026

 
$
(1,690
)
 
247

 
$
458,205

 
$
(13,205
)
 
355

 
$
660,231

 
$
(14,895
)


    

107


The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities available-for-sale at December 31, 2019, by contractual maturity, are shown in the table below.
 
 
 
Due in One Year
or Less
 
Due after One Year
through Five Years
 
Due after Five Years
through Ten Years
 
Due after
Ten Years
 
Total
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Treasury
 
$
499

 
$
500

 
$
20,163

 
$
20,586

 
$
39,795

 
$
42,469

 
$

 
$

 
$
60,457

 
$
63,555

Agency
 
1,000

 
1,014

 
40,647

 
42,162

 
166,244

 
169,070

 
32,457

 
34,112

 
240,348

 
246,358

Corporate
 

 

 

 

 
135,407

 
137,518

 
13,743

 
13,835

 
149,150

 
151,353

Municipal bonds
 

 

 
1,842

 
1,952

 
26,024

 
26,996

 
356,166

 
368,350

 
384,032

 
397,298

Collateralized mortgage obligation: residential
 

 

 

 

 
610

 
603

 
9,259

 
9,381

 
9,869

 
9,984

Mortgage-backed securities: residential
 

 

 
2,258

 
2,352

 
193,771

 
195,933

 
298,375

 
301,551

 
494,404

 
499,836

Total investment securities available-for-sale
 
1,499

 
1,514

 
64,910

 
67,052

 
561,851

 
572,589

 
710,000

 
727,229

 
1,338,260

 
1,368,384

Investment securities held-to-maturity:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Mortgage-backed securities: residential
 

 

 
908

 
942

 

 

 
35,206

 
36,094

 
36,114

 
37,036

Other
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
1,724

 
1,724

 
1,724

 
1,724

Total investment securities held-to-maturity
 

 

 
908

 
942

 

 

 
36,930

 
37,818

 
37,838

 
38,760

Total investment securities
 
$
1,499

 
$
1,514

 
$
65,818

 
$
67,994

 
$
561,851

 
$
572,589

 
$
746,930

 
$
765,047

 
$
1,376,098

 
$
1,407,144



During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized gross realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities in the amounts of $10.3 million, $1.6 million and $3.1 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized gross realized losses on sales of available-for-sale securities in the amounts of $1.8 million, $208,000 and $386,000, respectively. The Company had net proceeds from the sale or maturity/call of available-for-sale securities of $551.8 million, $407.0 million and $268.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Investment securities with carrying values of $125.7 million and $215.3 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, were pledged to secure public deposits, other borrowings and for other purposes as required or permitted by law.


FHLB, FRB and other stock

At December 31, 2019, the Company had $17.3 million in FHLB stock, $51.7 million in FRB stock and $24.1 million in other stock, all carried at cost. During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, FHLB had repurchased $18.3 million, $24.9 million and $10.3 million, respectively, of the Company’s excess FHLB stock through their stock repurchase program. The Company evaluates its investments in FHLB and other stock for impairment periodically, including their capital adequacy and overall financial condition. No impairment losses have been recorded through December 31, 2019.


108


Note 4 - Loans
 
The following table presents the composition of the loan portfolio as of the dates indicated:
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Business loans:
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
$
1,265,185

 
$
1,364,423

Franchise
916,875

 
765,416

Commercial owner occupied (1)
1,674,092

 
1,679,122

SBA
175,815

 
193,882

Agribusiness
127,834

 
138,519

Total business loans
4,159,801

 
4,141,362

Real estate loans:
 

 
 

Commercial non-owner occupied
2,072,374

 
2,003,174

Multi-family
1,576,870

 
1,535,289

One-to-four family (2)
254,779

 
356,264

Construction
410,065

 
523,643

Farmland
175,997

 
150,502

Land
31,090

 
46,628

Total real estate loans
4,521,175

 
4,615,500

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
Consumer loans
50,922

 
89,424

Gross loans held for investment (3)
8,731,898

 
8,846,286

Deferred loan origination fees and discounts, net
(9,587
)
 
(9,468
)
Loans held for investment
8,722,311

 
8,836,818

Allowance for loan losses
(35,698
)
 
(36,072
)
Loans held for investment, net
$
8,686,613

 
$
8,800,746

 
 
 
 
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value
$
1,672

 
$
5,719


 ______________________________
(1) Secured by real estate.
(2) Includes second trust deeds.
(3) Total gross loans held for investment for December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 net of the unaccreted fair value net purchase discounts of $40.7 million and $61.0 million, respectively.

The Company originates SBA loans with the intent to sell the guaranteed portion of the loan prior to maturity and, therefore, designates them as held for sale. From time to time, the Company may purchase or sell other types of loans in order to manage concentrations, maximize interest income, change risk profiles, improve returns and generate liquidity.

109


Loans Serviced for Others

The Company generally retains the servicing rights of the guaranteed portion of SBA loans sold, for which the Company records a servicing asset at fair value and subsequently accounted for at the lower of cost or market value. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the servicing asset total $7.7 million and $8.5 million, respectively, and was included in other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Servicing rights are evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the rights as compared to the carrying amount. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance, to the extent the fair value is less than the carrying amount. The fair value of retained servicing rights is generally evaluated at the loan level using a discounted cash flow analysis utilizing current market assumptions derived from the secondary market. Key modeling assumptions include interest rates, prepayment assumptions, discount rate and estimated cash flows. At December 31, 2019, and 2018, the Company determined that no valuation allowance was necessary.

Loans serviced for others are not included in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. The unpaid principal balance of loans and participations serviced for others were $633.8 million at December 31, 2019 and $635.3 million at December 31, 2018, including SBA participations serviced for others totaling $475.3 million at December 31, 2019 and $519.8 million at December 31, 2018.
 
Concentration of Credit Risk
 
As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s loan portfolio was primarily collateralized by various forms of real estate and business assets located principally in California, as well as in certain markets in the states of Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Oregon and Washington where we also have depository offices. The Company’s loan portfolio contains concentrations of credit in commercial non-owner occupied real estate, multi-family real estate, commercial owner occupied business loans and commercial and industrial business loans. The Company maintains policies approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors that address these concentrations and diversifies its loan portfolio through loan originations, purchases and sales of loans to meet approved concentration levels. While management believes that the collateral presently securing these loans is adequate, there can be no assurances that significant deterioration in the California real estate market or economy would not expose the Company to significantly greater credit risk.

Under applicable laws and regulations, the Bank may not make secured loans to one borrower in excess of 25% of the Bank’s unimpaired capital plus surplus and likewise in excess of 15% of the Bank’s unimpaired capital plus surplus for unsecured loans. These loans-to-one borrower limitations result in a dollar limitation of $563.4 million for secured loans and $338.0 million for unsecured loans at December 31, 2019. In order to manage concentration risk, the Bank maintains a house lending limit well below these statutory maximums. At December 31, 2019, the Bank’s largest aggregate outstanding balance of loans to one borrower was $126.3 million comprised of $101.5 million and $24.8 million of secured and unsecured credit, respectively.

Credit Quality and Credit Risk
 
The Company’s credit quality is maintained and credit risk managed in two distinct areas. The first is the loan origination process, wherein the Bank underwrites credit and chooses which risks it is willing to accept. The Company maintains a comprehensive credit policy, which sets forth minimum and maximum tolerances for key elements of loan risk. The policy identifies and sets forth specific guidelines for analyzing each of the loan products the Company offers from both an individual and portfolio wide basis. The credit policy is reviewed annually by the Bank Board. The Bank’s seasoned underwriters and portfolio managers ensure all key risk factors are analyzed with most loan underwriting including a comprehensive global cash flow analysis of the prospective borrowers. 
    
    

110


The second is in the ongoing oversight of the loan portfolio, where existing credit risk is measured and monitored, and where performance issues are dealt with in a timely and comprehensive fashion. Credit risk is monitored and managed within the loan portfolio by the Company’s portfolio managers based on a comprehensive credit and portfolio review policy. This policy requires a program of financial data collection and analysis, comprehensive loan reviews, property and/or business inspections and monitoring of portfolio concentrations and trends. The portfolio managers also monitor asset-based lines of credit, loan covenants and other conditions associated with the Company’s business loans as a means to help identify potential credit risk. Individual loans, excluding the homogeneous loan portfolio, are reviewed at least every two years, and in most cases, more often including the assignment of a risk grade.

Risk grades are based on a six-grade Pass scale, along with Special Mention, Substandard, Doubtful and Loss classifications, as such classifications are defined by the federal banking regulatory agencies. The assignment of risk grades allows the Company to, among other things, identify the risk associated with each credit in the portfolio, and to provide a basis for estimating probable incurred losses inherent in the portfolio. Risk grades are reviewed regularly by the Company’s Credit and Portfolio Review committee, and are reviewed annually by an independent third-party, as well as by regulatory agencies during scheduled examinations.
 
The following provides brief definitions for risk grades assigned to loans in the portfolio:
Pass classifications represent assets with an acceptable level of credit quality that contains no well-defined deficiencies or weaknesses.
Special Mention assets do not currently expose the Bank to a sufficient risk to warrant classification in one of the adverse categories, but possess correctable deficiencies or potential weaknesses deserving management’s close attention.
Substandard assets are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. These assets are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.
Doubtful credits have all the weaknesses inherent in substandard credits, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.
Loss assets are those that are considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as assets is not warranted. Amounts classified as loss are promptly charged off.

The Bank’s portfolio managers also manage loan performance risks, collections, workouts, bankruptcies and foreclosures. A special department, whose portfolio managers have professional expertise in these areas, typically handles or advises on these types of matters. Loan performance risks are mitigated by our portfolio managers acting promptly and assertively to address problem credits when they are identified. Collection efforts are commenced immediately upon non-payment, and the portfolio managers seek to promptly determine the appropriate steps to minimize the Company’s risk of loss. When foreclosure will maximize the Company’s recovery for a non-performing loan, the portfolio managers will take appropriate action to initiate the foreclosure process.

When a loan is graded as special mention or substandard or doubtful, the Company obtains an updated valuation of the underlying collateral. If the credit in question is also identified as impaired, a valuation allowance, if necessary, is established against such loan or a loss is recognized by a charge to the allowance for loan losses if management believes that the full amount of the Company’s recorded investment in the loan is no longer collectable. The Company typically continues to obtain or confirm updated valuations of underlying collateral for special mention and classified loans on an annual or biannual basis in order to have the most current indication of fair value. Once a loan is identified as impaired, an analysis of the underlying collateral is performed at least quarterly, and corresponding changes in any related valuation allowance are made or balances deemed to be fully uncollectable are charged-off.


111


The following tables stratify the loan portfolio by the Company’s internal risk rating, including loans held for sale, as of the periods indicated:

 
 
Credit Risk Grades
 
 
Pass
 
Special
Mention
 
Substandard
 
Doubtful
 
Total Gross
Loans
December 31, 2019
 
(dollars in thousands)
Business loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
 
$
1,236,073

 
$
13,226

 
$
15,886

 
$

 
$
1,265,185

Franchise
 
898,191

 
7,851

 
10,833

 

 
916,875

Commercial owner occupied
 
1,659,391

 
11,167

 
3,534

 

 
1,674,092

SBA
 
166,011

 
3,255

 
8,221

 

 
177,487

Agribusiness
 
123,338

 

 
4,496

 

 
127,834

Real estate loans
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Commercial non-owner occupied
 
2,070,068

 
1,178

 
1,128

 

 
2,072,374

Multi-family
 
1,576,654

 

 
216

 

 
1,576,870

One-to-four family
 
254,218

 

 
561

 

 
254,779

Construction
 
410,065

 

 

 

 
410,065

Farmland
 
175,997

 

 

 

 
175,997

Land
 
31,073

 

 
17

 

 
31,090

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
 
50,868

 

 
54

 

 
50,922

Totals
 
$
8,651,947

 
$
36,677

 
$
44,946

 
$

 
$
8,733,570

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit Risk Grades
 
 
Pass
 
Special
Mention
 
Substandard
 
Doubtful
 
Total Gross
Loans
December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Business loans
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Commercial and industrial
 
$
1,340,322

 
$
12,005

 
$
12,134

 
$

 
$
1,364,461

Franchise
 
760,795

 
4,431

 
190

 

 
765,416

Commercial owner occupied
 
1,660,994

 
1,580

 
16,548

 

 
1,679,122

SBA
 
189,006

 
2,289

 
6,906

 

 
198,201

Warehouse facilities
 
125,355

 

 
13,164

 

 
138,519

Real estate loans
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Commercial non-owner occupied
 
1,998,118

 
731

 
5,687

 

 
2,004,536

Multi-family
 
1,530,567

 
4,060

 
662

 

 
1,535,289

One-to-four family
 
350,083

 
728

 
5,453

 

 
356,264

Construction
 
523,643

 

 

 

 
523,643

Farmland
 
150,381

 

 
121

 

 
150,502

Land
 
46,008

 
132

 
488

 

 
46,628

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
 
89,321

 

 
103

 

 
89,424

Totals
 
$
8,764,593

 
$
25,956

 
$
61,456

 
$

 
$
8,852,005






112


The following tables present the aging of loan portfolio, including loans held for sale, by type of loans as of the periods indicated:
 
 
 
 
Days Past Due
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
 
30-59
 
60-89
 
90+
 
Total Gross Loans
 
Non-accruing
December 31, 2019
 
(dollars in thousands)
Business loans
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
 
$
1,260,940

 
$
422

 
$
826

 
$
2,997

 
$
1,265,185

 
$
4,637

Franchise
 
907,733

 

 
9,142

 

 
916,875

 

Commercial owner occupied
 
1,673,761

 
331

 

 

 
1,674,092

 

SBA
 
174,271

 
169

 
613

 
2,434

 
177,487

 
2,519

Agribusiness
 
127,834

 

 

 

 
127,834

 

Real estate loans
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial non-owner occupied
 
2,070,067

 
1,179

 

 
1,128

 
2,072,374

 
1,128

Multi-family
 
1,576,870

 

 

 

 
1,576,870

 

One-to-four family
 
254,779

 

 

 

 
254,779

 
366

Construction
 
410,065

 

 

 

 
410,065

 

Farmland
 
175,997

 

 

 

 
175,997

 

Land
 
31,090

 

 

 

 
31,090

 

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
 
50,914

 
5

 
2

 
1

 
50,922

 

Totals
 
$
8,714,321

 
$
2,106

 
$
10,583

 
$
6,560

 
$
8,733,570

 
$
8,650

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Days Past Due
 
 

 
 

 
 
Current
 
30-59
 
60-89
 
90+
 
Total Gross Loans
 
Non-accruing
December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Business loans
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Commercial and industrial
 
$
1,362,017

 
$
309

 
$
1,204

 
$
931

 
$
1,364,461

 
$
931

Franchise
 
759,546

 
5,680

 

 
190

 
765,416

 
190

Commercial owner occupied
 
1,677,967

 
343

 

 
812

 
1,679,122

 
599

SBA
 
195,051

 
524

 

 
2,626

 
198,201

 
2,739

Warehouse facilities
 
138,519

 

 

 

 
138,519

 

Real estate loans
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial non-owner occupied
 
2,004,536

 

 

 

 
2,004,536

 

Multi-family
 
1,535,275

 
14

 

 

 
1,535,289

 

One-to-four family
 
356,219

 
30

 
9

 
6

 
356,264

 
398

Construction
 
523,643

 

 

 

 
523,643

 

Farmland
 
150,502

 

 

 

 
150,502

 

Land
 
46,628

 

 

 

 
46,628

 

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer loans
 
89,249

 
146

 
29

 

 
89,424

 

Totals
 
$
8,839,152

 
$
7,046

 
$
1,242

 
$
4,565

 
$
8,852,005

 
$
4,857





113


Impaired Loans
    
The following tables provide a summary of the Company’s investment in impaired loans as of and for the periods indicated:
 
 
Recorded Investment
 
Unpaid Principal Balance
 
With Specific Allowance
 
Without Specific Allowance
 
Specific Allowance for Impaired Loans
 
Average Recorded Investment
 
Interest Income Recognized
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial and industrial
 
$
7,529

 
$
7,755

 
$

 
$
7,529

 
$

 
$
3,649

 
$
22

Franchise
 
10,834

 
10,835

 

 
10,834

 

 
3,079

 
151

Commercial owner occupied
 

 

 

 

 

 
683

 

SBA
 
3,132

 
4,070

 

 
3,132

 

 
2,996

 
16

Agribusiness
 

 

 

 

 

 
6,602

 
363

Real estate loans
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial non-owner occupied
 
1,128

 
1,184

 

 
1,128

 

 
411

 

One-to-four family
 
366

 
412

 

 
366

 

 
379

 

Land
 

 

 

 

 

 
120

 

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer
 

 

 

 

 

 
19

 

Totals
 
$
22,989

 
$
24,256

 
$

 
$
22,989

 
$

 
$
17,938

 
$
552

December 31, 2018
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Business loans
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial and industrial
 
$
1,023

 
$
1,071

 
$
550

 
$
473

 
$
118

 
$
1,173

 
$
1

Franchise
 
189

 
190

 

 
189

 

 
119

 

Commercial owner occupied
 
599

 
628

 

 
599

 

 
1,549

 

SBA
 
2,739

 
7,598

 
488

 
2,251

 
466

 
1,814

 

Agribusiness
 
7,500

 
7,500

 

 
7,500

 

 
625

 
35

Real estate loans
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial non-owner occupied
 

 

 

 

 

 
538

 

Multi-family
 

 

 

 

 

 
500

 

One-to-four family
 
408

 
453

 

 
408

 

 
1,206

 

Land
 

 

 

 

 

 
5

 

Consumer loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consumer
 

 

 

 

 

 
33

 

Totals
 
$
12,458

 
$
17,440

 
$
1,038

 
$
11,420

 
$
584

 
$
7,562

 
$
36

December 31, 2017
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Business loans
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial and industrial
 
$
1,160

 
$
1,585

 
$

 
$
1,160

 
$

 
$
441

 
$

Commercial owner occupied
 
97

 
98

 
97

 

 
55

 
153

 

SBA
 
1,201

 
4,329

 

 
1,201

 

 
434

 

Real estate loans
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Commercial non-owner occupied
 

 

 

 

 

 
86

 

One-to-four family
 
817

 
849

 

 
817

 

 
166

 

Construction
 

 

 

 

 

 
1,017

 

Land
 
9

 
35

 

 
9

 

 
12

 

Totals
 
$
3,284

 
$
6,896

 
$
97

 
$
3,187

 
$
55

 
$
2,309

 
$



114


The Company considers a loan to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement or it is determined that the likelihood of the Company receiving all scheduled payments, including interest, when due is remote. The Company has no commitments to lend additional funds to debtors whose loans have been impaired.
 
The Company reviews loans for impairment when the loan is classified as substandard or worse, delinquent 90 days, determined by management to be collateral dependent, or when the borrower files bankruptcy or is granted a troubled debt restructuring. Measurement of impairment is based on the loan’s expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, measured by reference to an observable market value, if one exists, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is deemed collateral dependent. Loans are generally charged-off at the time that the loan is classified as a loss. Valuation allowances are determined on a loan-by-loan basis or by aggregating loans with similar risk characteristics.

We sometimes modify or restructure loans when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties by making a concession to the borrower in the form of changes in the amortization terms, reductions in the interest rates, the acceptance of interest only payments and, in limited cases, concessions to the outstanding loan balances. These loans are classified as TDR and considered impaired loans. TDRs are loans modified for the purpose of alleviating temporary impairments to the borrower’s financial condition or cash flows. A workout plan between us and the borrower is designed to provide a bridge for borrower cash flow shortfalls in the near term. A TDR loan may be returned to accrual status when the loan is brought current, has performed in accordance with the contractual restructured terms for a time frame of at least six months, and the ultimate collectability of the total contractual restructured principal and interest in no longer in doubt. At December 31, 2019, the Company had $3.0 million recorded investment in two TDR loans, with their terms being modified to extend the maturity date for 24 months or less, compared to no TDR loans at December 31, 2018. These two TDRs were both current and on accrual status as of December 31, 2019. The modification did not have an impact on the recorded investments.

When loans are placed on nonaccrual status, previously accrued but unpaid interest is reversed from earnings. Payments received on nonaccrual loans are generally applied as a reduction to the loan principal balance. If the likelihood of further loss is remote, the Company will recognize interest on a cash basis only. Loans may be returned to accruing status if the Company believes that all remaining principal and interest is fully collectible and there has been at least three months of sustained repayment performance since the loan was placed on nonaccrual.
 
The Company typically does not accrue interest on loans 90 days or more past due or when, in the opinion of management, there is reasonable doubt as to the collection of nterest. The Company had impaired loans on nonaccrual status of $8.7 million and $4.9 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company did not record income from the receipt of cash payments related to nonaccruing loans during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. The Company had no loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing at December 31, 2019. The Company had $213,000 in loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing at December 31, 2018, all of which were PCI loans. Income recognition for PCI loans is accounted for in accordance with ASC 310-30.

The Company had no consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property for which formal foreclosure proceedings were in process as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.



115


Note 5 - Allowance for Loan Losses
    
The Company’s ALLL covers estimated credit losses on individually evaluated loans that are determined to be impaired as well as estimated probable incurred losses inherent in the remainder of the loan portfolio. The ALLL is prepared using the information provided by the Company’s credit review process together with data from peer institutions and economic information gathered from published sources.

The loan portfolio is segmented into groups of loans with similar risk characteristics. Each segment possesses varying degrees of risk based on, among other things, the type of loan, the type of collateral and the sensitivity of the borrower or industry to changes in external factors such as economic conditions. An estimated loss rate calculated using the Company’s historical loss rates adjusted for current portfolio trends, economic conditions, and other relevant internal and external factors, is applied to each group’s aggregate loan balances.

The Company’s base ALLL factors are determined by management using the Bank’s annualized actual trailing charge-off data over a full credit cycle with an approximate average loss emergence period of 1 year to 1.6 years. Potential adjustments to those base factors are made for relevant internal and external factors. Those factors may include:
Changes in lending policies and procedures, including underwriting standards and collection, charge-offs and recovery practices;
Changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, including new types of lending;
Changes in the experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff that may have an impact on our loan portfolio;
Changes in the volume and severity of adversely classified or graded loans;
Changes in the quality of our loan review system and the management oversight;
The existence and effect of any concentrations of credit and changes in the level of such concentrations;
Changes in national, regional and local economic conditions, including trends in real estate values and the interest rate environment;
Changes in the value of the underlying collateral for collateral-dependent loans; and
The effect of external factors, such as competition, legal developments and regulatory requirements on the level of estimated credit losses in our current loan portfolio

For loans risk graded as watch or worse, progressively higher potential loss factors are applied based on migration analysis of risk grading and net charge-offs.


116


The following tables summarize the allocation of the ALLL as well as the activity in the ALLL attributed to various segments in the loan portfolio as of and for the periods indicated:

 
Commercial
 and Industrial
 
Franchise
 
Commercial
 Owner Occupied
 
SBA
 
Agribusiness
 
Commercial
 Non-owner Occupied
 
Multi-family
 
One-to-four
Family
 
Construction
 
Farmland
 
Land
 
Consumer Loans
 
Total
 
(dollars in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2018
$
10,821

 
$
6,500

 
$
1,386

 
$
4,288

 
$
3,283

 
$
1,604

 
$
725

 
$
805

 
$
5,166

 
$
503

 
$
772

 
$
219

 
$
36,072

Charge-offs
(2,318
)
 
(2,531
)
 
(125
)
 
(2,238
)
 

 
(625
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(16
)
 
(7,853
)
Recoveries
189

 
18

 
46

 
78

 

 

 

 
2

 

 

 

 
11

 
344

Provisions for (reduction in) loan losses
2,642

 
2,421

 
616

 
2,351

 
(760
)
 
920

 
4

 
(152
)
 
(1,357
)
 
355

 
(97
)
 
192

 
7,135

Balance, December 31, 2019
$
11,334

 
$
6,408

 
$
1,923

 
$
4,479

 
$
2,523

 
$
1,899

 
$
729

 
$
655

 
$
3,809

 
$
858

 
$
675

 
$
406

 
$
35,698

Amount of allowance attributed to:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Specifically evaluated impaired loans
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

General portfolio allocation
11,334

 
6,408

 
1,923

 
4,479

 
2,523

 
1,899

 
729

 
655

 
3,809

 
858

 
675

 
406

 
35,698

Loans individually evaluated for impairment
7,529

 
10,834

 

 
3,132

 

 
1,128

 

 
366

 

 

 

 

 
22,989

Specific reserves to total loans individually evaluated for impairment
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment
$
1,257,656

 
$
906,041

 
$
1,674,092

 
$
172,683

 
$
127,834

 
$
2,071,246

 
$
1,576,870

 
$
254,413

 
$
410,065

 
$
175,997

 
$
31,090

 
$
50,922

 
$
8,708,909

General reserves to total loans collectively evaluated for impairment
0.90
%
 
0.71
%
 
0.11
%
 
2.59
%
 
1.97
%
 
0.09
%
 
0.05
%
 
0.26
%
 
0.93
%
 
0.49
%
 
2.17
%
 
0.80
%
 
0.41
%
Total gross loans
$
1,265,185

 
$
916,875

 
$
1,674,092

 
$
175,815

 
$
127,834

 
$
2,072,374

 
$
1,576,870

 
$
254,779

 
$
410,065

 
$
175,997

 
$
31,090

 
$
50,922

 
$
8,731,898

Total allowance to gross loans
0.90
%
 
0.70
%
 
0.11
%
 
2.55
%
 
1.97
%
 
0.09
%
 
0.05
%
 
0.26
%
 
0.93
%
 
0.49
%
 
2.17
%
 
0.80
%
 
0.41
%


117


 
Commercial
 and Industrial
 
Franchise
 
Commercial
 Owner Occupied
 
SBA
 
Agribusiness
 
Commercial
 Non-owner Occupied
 
Multi-family
 
One-to-four
Family
 
Construction
 
Farmland
 
Land
 
Consumer Loans
 
Total
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, December 31, 2017
$
9,721

 
$
5,797

 
$
767

 
$
2,890

 
$
1,291

 
$
1,266

 
$
607

 
$
803

 
$
4,569

 
$
137

 
$
993

 
$
95

 
$
28,936

Charge-offs
(1,411
)
 

 
(33
)
 
(102
)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(409
)
 
(1,955
)
Recoveries
698

 

 
47

 
169

 

 

 

 
13

 

 

 

 
8

 
935

Provisions for (reduction in) loan losses
1,813

 
703

 
605

 
1,331

 
1,992

 
338

 
118

 
(11
)
 
597

 
366

 
(221
)
 
525

 
8,156

Balance, December 31, 2018
$
10,821

 
$
6,500

 
$
1,386

 
$
4,288

 
$
3,283

 
$
1,604

 
$
725

 
$
805

 
$
5,166

 
$
503

 
$
772

 
$
219

 
$
36,072

Amount of allowance attributed to:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Specifically evaluated impaired loans
$
118

 
$

 
$

 
$
466

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
584

General portfolio allocation
10,703

 
6,500

 
1,386

 
3,822

 
3,283

 
1,604

 
725

 
805

 
5,166

 
503

 
772

 
219

 
35,488

Loans individually evaluated for impairment
1,023

 
189

 
599

 
2,739

 
7,500

 

 

 
408

 

 

 

 

 
12,458

Specific reserves to total loans individually evaluated for impairment
11.53
%
 
%
 
%
 
17.01
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
4.69
%
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment
$
1,363,400

 
$
765,227

 
$
1,678,523

 
$
191,143

 
$
131,019

 
$
2,003,174

 
$
1,535,289

 
$
355,856

 
$
523,643

 
$
150,502

 
$
46,628

 
$
89,424

 
$
8,833,828

General reserves to total loans collectively evaluated for impairment
0.79
%
 
0.85
%
 
0.08
%
 
2.00
%
 
2.51
%
 
0.08
%
 
0.05
%
 
0.23
%
 
0.99
%
 
0.33
%
 
1.66
%
 
0.24
%
 
0.40
%
Total gross loans
$
1,364,423

 
$
765,416

 
$
1,679,122

 
$
193,882

 
$
138,519

 
$
2,003,174

 
$
1,535,289

 
$
356,264

 
$
523,643

 
$
150,502

 
$
46,628

 
$
89,424

 
$
8,846,286

Total allowance to gross loans
0.79
%
 
0.85
%
 
0.08
%
 
2.21
%
 
2.37
%
 
0.08
%
 
0.05
%
 
0.23
%
 
0.99
%
 
0.33
%
 
1.66
%
 
0.24
%
 
0.41
%

 

118


 
Commercial
 and Industrial
 
Franchise
 
Commercial
 Owner Occupied
 
SBA
 
Agribusiness
 
Commercial
 Non-owner Occupied
 
Multi-family
 
One-to-four
Family
 
Construction
 
Farmland
 
Land
 
Consumer Loans
 
Total
 
 
Balance, December 31, 2016
$
6,362

 
$
3,845

 
$
1,193

 
$
1,039

 
$

 
$
1,715

 
$
2,927

 
$
365

 
$
3,632

 
$

 
$
198

 
$
20

 
$
21,296

Charge-offs
(1,344
)
 

 

 
(8
)
 

 

 

 
(10
)
 

 

 

 

 
(1,362
)
Recoveries
94

 

 
105

 
127

 

 

 

 
35

 

 

 

 
1

 
362

Provisions for (reduction in) loan losses
4,609

 
1,952

 
(531
)
 
1,732

 
1,291

 
(449
)
 
(2,320
)
 
413

 
937

 
137

 
795

 
74

 
8,640

Balance, December 31, 2017
$
9,721

 
$
5,797

 
$
767

 
$
2,890

 
$
1,291

 
$
1,266

 
$
607

 
$
803

 
$
4,569

 
$
137

 
$
993

 
$
95

 
$
28,936

Amount of allowance attributed to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Specifically evaluated impaired loans
$

 
$

 
$
55

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
55

General portfolio allocation
9,721

 
5,797

 
712

 
2,890

 
1,291

 
1,266

 
607

 
803

 
4,569

 
137

 
993

 
95

 
28,881

Loans individually evaluated for impairment
1,160

 

 
97

 
1,201

 

 

 

 
817

 

 

 
9

 

 
3,284

Specific reserves to total loans individually evaluated for impairment
%
 
%
 
56.70
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
1.67
%
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment
$
1,085,499

 
$
660,414

 
$
1,289,116

 
$
184,313

 
$
116,066

 
$
1,243,115

 
$
794,384

 
$
270,077

 
$
282,811

 
$
145,393

 
$
31,224

 
$
92,931

 
$
6,195,343

General reserves to total loans collectively evaluated for impairment
0.90
%
 
0.88
%
 
0.06
%
 
1.57
%
 
1.11
%
 
0.10
%
 
0.08
%
 
0.30
%
 
1.62
%
 
0.09
%
 
3.18
%
 
0.10
%
 
0.47
%
Total gross loans
$
1,086,659

 
$
660,414

 
$
1,289,213

 
$
185,514

 
$
116,066

 
$
1,243,115

 
$
794,384

 
$
270,894

 
$
282,811

 
$
145,393

 
$
31,233

 
$
92,931

 
$
6,198,627

Total allowance to gross loans
0.89
%
 
0.88
%
 
0.06
%
 
1.56
%
 
1.11
%
 
0.10
%
 
0.08
%
 
0.30
%
 
1.62
%
 
0.09
%
 
3.18
%
 
0.10
%
 
0.47
%



119


Note 6 - Other Real Estate Owned
 
The following summarizes the activity in other real estate owned for the years ended December 31: 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year
$
147

 
$
326

 
$
460

Additions:
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisitions

 
524

 
326

Foreclosures
644

 
15

 

Sales
(329
)
 
(1,055
)
 
(507
)
Gain (loss) on sale
(20
)
 
346

 
47

Write downs
(1
)
 
(9
)
 

Balance, end of year
$
441

 
$
147

 
$
326



The Company had no consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property for which formal foreclosure proceedings were in process as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Note 7 - Premises and Equipment
 
The Company’s premises and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:
 
2019
 
2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Land
$
13,820

 
$
18,902

Premises
16,697

 
25,361

Leasehold improvements
25,884

 
15,824

Furniture, fixtures and equipment
33,871

 
28,994

Automobiles
173

 
173

Subtotal
90,445

 
89,254

Less: accumulated depreciation
31,444

 
24,563

Total
$
59,001

 
$
64,691



Depreciation expense for premises and equipment was $9.8 million for 2019, $7.7 million for 2018 and $4.9 million for 2017.
 

120


Note 8 - Goodwill and Core Deposit Intangibles

At December 31, 2019, the Company had goodwill of $808.3 million. In 2019, adjustments to goodwill in the amount of $404,000 for Grandpoint were recorded during the one-year measurement period subsequent to the acquisition date. In 2018, additions to goodwill included $313.0 million due to the acquisition of Grandpoint and adjustments to goodwill in the amount of $1.8 million for PLZZ and $600,000 for HEOP during the one-year measurement period subsequent to the acquisition date. The following table presents changes in the carrying value of goodwill for the periods indicated:
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year
$
808,726

 
$
493,329

 
$
102,490

Goodwill acquired during the year

 
313,043

 
390,839

Purchase accounting adjustments
(404
)
 
2,354

 

Impairment losses

 

 

Balance, end of year
$
808,322

 
$
808,726

 
$
493,329

Accumulated impairment losses at end of year
$

 
$

 
$


The Company assesses goodwill for impairment on an annual basis during the fourth quarter of each year, and more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that there may be impairment. The Company elected to perform a qualitative assessment to determine if it was more likely than not that the fair value of the Company exceeded its carrying value. As a result of this analysis, the Company determined that there was no goodwill impairment as of December 31, 2019.

At December 31, 2019, the Company had core deposit intangibles of $83.3 million. The Company had no additions to core deposit intangibles during 2019. The Company’s change in the gross balance of core deposit intangibles and the related accumulated amortization consisted of the following for the periods indicated:

 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Gross Balance of CDI:
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of year
$
125,945

 
$
54,809

 
$
15,102

Additions due to acquisitions

 
71,136

 
39,707

Balance, end of year
125,945

 
125,945

 
54,809

Accumulated amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, beginning of year
(25,389
)
 
(11,795
)
 
(5,651
)
Amortization
(17,244
)
 
(13,594
)
 
(6,144
)
Balance, end of year
(42,633
)
 
(25,389
)
 
(11,795
)
Net CDI, end of year
$
83,312

 
$
100,556

 
$
43,014


The Company amortizes the core deposit intangibles based on the projected useful lives of the related deposits ranging from six to eleven years. The estimated aggregate amortization expense related to our core deposit intangible assets for each of the next five years succeeding December 31, 2019, in order from the present, is $15.4 million, $13.4 million, $11.7 million, $10.2 million and $9.2 million. The Company’s core deposit intangibles is evaluated annually for impairment or sooner if events and circumstances indicate possible impairment. Factors that may attribute to impairment include customer attrition and run-off. Management is unaware of any events and/or circumstances that would indicate a possible impairment to the core deposit intangibles.


121


Note 9 - Bank Owned Life Insurance

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had investments in BOLI of $113.4 million and $110.9 million, respectively. The Company recorded noninterest income associated with the BOLI policies of $3.5 million, $3.4 million and $2.3 million for the years ending December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
 
BOLI involves the purchasing of life insurance by the Company on a select group of employees where the Company is the owner and beneficiary of the policies. BOLI is recorded as an asset at its cash surrender value. Increases in the cash surrender value of these policies, as well as a portion of the insurance proceeds received, are recorded in noninterest income and are not subject to income tax, as long as they are held for the life of the covered parties.

Note 10 - Qualified Affordable Housing Project Investments
 
The Company invests in certain affordable housing projects in the form of ownership interests in limited partnerships or limited liability companies that qualify for CRA and generate low income housing tax credits (“LIHTC”) and other tax benefits over an approximately 10 year period.

The Company records its investments in qualified affordable housing partnerships, using either the cost method or the proportional amortization method. Under the cost method, the Company amortizes the initial cost of the investment as noninterest expense equally over the expected time period in which tax credits and other tax benefits will be received. Under the proportional amortization method, the Company amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits that are allocated to the Company over the period of the investment. The net benefits of these investments, which is comprised of tax credits and operating loss tax benefits, net of investment amortization, are recognized in the income statement as a component of income tax expense (benefit).

The Company’s net investment in qualified affordable housing projects that generate LIHTC at December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $53.9 million and $39.4 million, respectively, and are recorded in other assets in the consolidated statement of financial condition. Total unfunded commitments related to the investments in qualified affordable housing funds totaled $21.4 million and $13.4 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and are recorded under accrued expenses and other liabilities.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s unfunded affordable housing commitments were estimated to be paid as follows:
 
 
Amount
Year Ending December 31,
 
(dollars in thousands)
2020
 
$
9,776

2021
 
6,596

2022
 
3,806

2023
 
187

2024
 
182

Thereafter
 
867

Total unfunded commitments
 
$
21,414


    

122


The following table presents tax credits and other tax benefits generated by operating losses from qualified affordable housing projects as well as amortization expense associated with these investments for the years ended December 31, 20192018 and 2017.
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Tax credit and other tax benefits recognized
 
$
6,506

 
$
4,748

 
$
1,719

Amortization of investments
 
5,527

 
4,574

 
1,599


There were no impairment losses related to LIHTC investments for the years ended December 31, 20192018 and 2017.

Note 11 - Deposit Accounts
 
Deposit accounts and weighted average interest rates consisted of the following at December 31:
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
Amount
 
Weighted
Average
Interest Rate
 
Amount
 
Weighted
Average
Interest Rate
 
 
 (dollars in thousands)
Noninterest-bearing checking
 
$
3,857,660

 
%
 
$
3,495,737

 
%
Interest-bearing checking
 
586,019

 
0.43
%
 
526,088

 
0.38
%
Money market
 
3,171,164

 
0.83
%
 
2,975,578

 
0.89
%
Savings
 
235,824

 
0.16
%
 
250,271

 
0.14
%
Certificates of deposit accounts
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

250,000 or less
 
500,331

 
1.59
%
 
569,877

 
1.44
%
Greater than $250,000
 
547,511

 
1.77
%
 
840,800

 
2.12
%
Total certificates of deposit accounts
 
1,047,842

 
1.69
%
 
1,410,677

 
1.84
%
Total deposits
 
$
8,898,509

 
0.53
%
 
$
8,658,351

 
0.63
%

 
The aggregate annual maturities of certificates of deposit accounts at December 31, 2019 are as follows:
 
2019
 
Amount
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate
 
(dollars in thousands)
Within 3 months
$
571,143

 
1.70
%
4 to 6 months
240,132

 
1.87
%
7 to 12 months
138,515

 
1.46
%
13 to 24 months
76,617

 
1.49
%
25 to 36 months
11,182

 
1.24
%
37 to 60 months
9,644

 
1.71
%
Over 60 months
609

 
2.08
%
Total
$
1,047,842

 
1.69
%



123


Interest expense on deposit accounts for the years ended December 31 is summarized as follows:
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Checking accounts
$
2,340

 
$
1,167

 
$
365

Money market accounts
28,279

 
19,567

 
6,720

Savings
382

 
357

 
251

Certificates of deposit accounts
27,296

 
16,562

 
6,035

Total
$
58,297

 
$
37,653

 
$
13,371



Accrued interest on deposits, which is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities, was $590,000 at December 31, 2019 and $1.7 million at December 31, 2018.
 
Note 12 - Federal Home Loan Bank Advances and Other Borrowings
 
As of December 31, 2019, the Company has a line of credit with the FHLB that provides for advances totaling up to 40% of the Company’s assets, equating to a credit line of $4.72 billion, of which $2.24 billion was available for borrowing. The available for borrowing was based on collateral pledged by real estate loans with an aggregate balance of $3.90 billion.  

At December 31, 2019, the Company had $491.0 million in overnight FHLB advances and $26.0 million term advances, compared to $506.0 million in overnight FHLB advances and $161.5 million term advances at December 31, 2018. The term advance have maturity dates ranging from February 2020 to June of 2022 and rates ranging from 1.78% to 2.47%.

The following table summarizes activities in advances from the FHLB for the periods indicated:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Average balance outstanding
$
404,959

 
$
529,278

Weighted average rate
2.43
%
 
2.06
%
Maximum amount outstanding at any month-end during the year
1,091,596

 
883,612

Balance outstanding at end of year
517,026

 
667,606

Weighted average interest rate at year-end
1.69
%
 
2.51
%

 
At December 31, 2019, the Bank had unsecured lines of credit with eight correspondent banks for a total amount of $193.0 million and access through the Federal Reserve discount window to borrow $1.1 million. At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had no outstanding balances against these lines.

The Company maintains additional sources of liquidity at the Corporation level. The $15.0 million line of credit with Wells Fargo Bank established in June 2017 matured in June 2019. At December 31, 2018, the Corporation had no outstanding balances against this line. A new $15 million line of credit was established with US Bank on July 1, 2019 and will expire on July 1, 2020. At December 31, 2019, the Corporation had no outstanding balances against this line.


124


The following table summarizes activities in other borrowings for the periods indicated:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Average balance outstanding
$
229

 
$
29,193

Weighted average rate
0.63
%
 
1.69
%
Maximum amount outstanding at any month-end during the year
10,000

 
52,091

Balance outstanding at end of year

 
75

Weighted average interest rate at year-end
%
 
0.01
%


Note 13 - Subordinated Debentures
 
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had three subordinated notes and two junior subordinated debt securities, with an aggregate carrying value of $215.1 million and a weighted interest rate of 5.37%, compared to $110.3 million with a weighted interest rate of 6.04% at December 31, 2018. The increase of $104.8 million, or 95.0%, is primarily driven by the issuance of $125.0 million subordinated notes, and slightly offset by the redemption of junior subordinated debt securities totaling $18.6 million during 2019.

In August 2014, the Corporation issued $60.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Subordinated Notes Due 2024 (the “Notes I”) in a private placement transaction to institutional accredited investors (the “Private Placement”). The Notes I bear interest at an annual fixed rate of 5.75%, with the first interest payment on the Notes made on March 3, 2015, and interest payable semiannually each March 3 and September 3 through September 3, 2024. At December 31, 2019, the carrying value of the Notes was $59.4 million, net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $568,000. The Notes can only be redeemed, in whole or in part, prior to the maturity date if the notes do not constitute Tier 2 Capital (for purposes of capital adequacy guidelines of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve). As of December 31, 2019, the Notes I qualify as Tier 2 Capital. Principal and interest are due upon early redemption.

In May 2019, the Corporation issued $125.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.875% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due May 15, 2029 (the “Notes II”), at a public offering price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes II. The Corporation may redeem the Notes II on or after May 15, 2024. From and including the issue date, but excluding May 15, 2024, the Notes II will bear interest at an initial fixed rate of 4.875% per annum, payable semi-annually. From and including May 15, 2024, but excluding the maturity date or the date of earlier redemption, the Notes II will bear interest at a floating rate equal to the then-current three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 2.50% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears. At December 31, 2019, the carrying value of the Notes II was $122.6 million, net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $2.4 million. At December 31, 2019, the Notes II qualify as Tier 2 Capital. Principal and interest are due upon early redemption at any time, including prior to May 15, 2024 at our option, in whole but not in part, under the occurrence of special events defined within the trust indenture.

In connection with the Private Placement, the Corporation obtained ratings from Kroll Bond Rating Agency (“KBRA”). KBRA assigned investment grade ratings of BBB+ and BBB for the Corporation’s senior unsecured debt and subordinated debt, respectively, and a deposit rating of A- for the Bank. The Company’s and Bank’s ratings were reaffirmed in February 2020 by KBRA following the announcement of the proposed acquisition of Opus.

    

125


In March 2004, the Corporation issued $10.3 million in Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the “Subordinated Debentures”), due and payable on April 6, 2034, to PPBI Trust I, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware. Interest is payable quarterly on the Subordinated Debentures at three-month LIBOR plus 2.75% per annum, for an effective rate of 5.35% as of December 31, 2019. The Subordinated Debentures are currently redeemable, in part or whole, at the option of the Corporation, at par. The Corporation also purchased a 3% minority interest totaling $310,000 in PPBI Trust I. The balance of the equity of PPBI Trust I is comprised of mandatorily redeemable preferred securities (“Trust Preferred Securities”) and is included in the Corporation’s other assets category. PPBI Trust I sold $10.0 million of trust preferred securities to investors in a private offering. On July 8, 2019, the Company used a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the Notes II to redeem all $10.3 million outstanding principal amount of Subordinated Debentures. Prior to redemption, the Subordinated Debentures carried an interest rate of three-month LIBOR plus 2.75% per annum, for an effective rate of 5.35% per annum. The Subordinated Debentures were called at par, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the date of redemption, for an aggregate amount of $10.4 million, and PPBI Trust I was dissolved.

On April 1, 2017, as part of the HEOP acquisition, the Corporation assumed $5.2 million of floating rate junior subordinated debt securities associated with Heritage Oaks Capital Trust II. Interest is payable quarterly at three-month LIBOR plus 1.72% per annum, for an effective rate of 3.82% per annum as of December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2019, the carrying value of these debentures was $4.1 million, which reflects purchase accounting fair value adjustments of $1.2 million. The Corporation also assumed $3.1 million and $5.2 million of floating rate junior subordinated debt associated with Mission Community Capital Trust I and Santa Lucia Bancorp (CA) Capital Trust, respectively. For Santa Lucia Bancorp (CA) Capital Trust, the carrying value of these debentures was $3.9 million at December 31, 2019, which reflects purchase accounting fair value adjustments of $1.3 million. Interest is payable quarterly at three-month LIBOR plus 1.48% per annum, for an effective rate of 3.47% per annum as of December 31, 2019. These debentures are callable by the Corporation at par.

On October 7, 2019, the Company used a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the Notes II in May 2019 to redeem all outstanding principal amount of floating rate junior subordinated debt securities associated with Mission Community Capital Trust I. Prior to redemption, the junior subordinated debt securities carried an interest rate of three-month LIBOR plus 2.95% per annum, for an effective rate of 5.25% per annum, and were scheduled to mature on October 7, 2033. The junior subordinated debt securities were called at par, plus accrued and unpaid interest, for an aggregate amount of $3.1 million, and the associated business trust was dissolved. The Company recorded a loss on early debt extinguishment of $290,000 related to purchase accounting fair value adjustments.

On November 1, 2017, as part of the PLZZ acquisition, the Company assumed three subordinated notes totaling $25.0 million at a fixed interest rate of 7.125% payable in arrears on a quarterly basis. The notes have a maturity date of June 26, 2025 and are also redeemable in whole, or in part, from time to time beginning in June 26, 2020 at an amount equal to 103.0% of principal plus accrued unpaid interest. The redemption price decreases 50 basis points each subsequent year. At December 31, 2019, the carrying value of these subordinated notes was $25.1 million, which reflects purchase accounting fair value adjustments of $133,000.

On July 1, 2018, as part of the Grandpoint acquisition, the Corporation assumed $5.2 million of floating rate junior subordinated debt securities associated with First Commerce Bancorp Statutory Trust I. On September 17, 2019, the Company used a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the Notes II in May 2019 to redeem all outstanding principal amount of these floating rate junior subordinated debt securities at par, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the date of redemption, for an aggregate amount of $5.2 million. Prior to redemption, the junior subordinated debt securities carried an interest rate of three-month LIBOR plus 2.95% per annum, for an effective rate of 5.36% per annum. The Company recorded a loss on early debt extinguishment of $214,000 related to purchase accounting fair value adjustments, and First Commerce Bancorp Statutory Trust I was dissolved.

    

126


The Corporation is not allowed to consolidate the statutory business trusts, which were formed for the purpose of issuing junior subordinated debentures, into the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The resulting effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements is to report the Subordinated Debentures as a component of the Company’s liabilities, and its ownership interest in the trusts as a component of other assets. The redemption of Tier 1 capital instruments associated with PPBI Trust I, First Commerce Bancorp Statutory Trust I and Mission Community Capital Trust I during the year ended December 31, 2019 reduced the Company’s Tier 1 capital by a total of $17.6 million. The Company’s regulatory capital ratios continued to exceed regulatory minimums to be well-capitalized and the fully phased-in capital conservation buffer, following these redemptions.

The following table summarizes our outstanding subordinated debentures as of December 31:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
Stated Maturity
 
Current Interest Rate
 
Current Principal Balance
 
Carrying Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Subordinated notes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subordinated notes due 2024, 5.75% per annum
 
September 3, 2024
 
5.75
%
 
$
60,000

 
$
59,432

 
$
59,312

Subordinated notes due 2029, 4.875% per annum until May 15, 2024, 3-month LIBOR +2.5% thereafter
 
May 15, 2029
 
4.875
%
 
125,000

 
122,622

 

Subordinated notes due 2025, 7.125% per annum
 
June 26, 2025
 
7.125
%
 
25,000

 
25,133

 
25,158

Total subordinated notes
 
 
 
 
 
210,000

 
207,187

 
84,470

Subordinated debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PPBI Trust I, 3-month LIBOR+2.75%
 
April 6, 2034
 
 
 

 

 
10,310

Heritage Oaks Capital Trust II (junior subordinated debt), 3-month LIBOR+1.72%
 
January 1, 2037
 
3.82
%
 
5,248

 
4,054

 
3,986

Santa Lucia Bancorp (CA) Capital Trust (junior subordinated debt), 3-month LIBOR+1.48%
 
July 7, 2036
 
3.47
%
 
5,155

 
3,904

 
3,829

Mission Community Capital Trust (junior subordinated debt), 3-month LIBOR+2.95%
 
October 7, 2033
 
 
 

 

 
2,787

First Commerce Bancorp Statutory Trust I (junior subordinated debt), 3-month LIBOR+2.95%
 
September 17, 2033
 
 
 

 

 
4,931

Total subordinated debt
 
 
 
 
 
10,403

 
7,958

 
25,843

Total subordinated debentures
 
 
 
 
 
$
220,403

 
$
215,145

 
$
110,313


 
The following table summarizes activities for our subordinated debentures for the periods indicated:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Average balance outstanding
$
183,383

 
$
107,732

Weighted average rate
5.82
%
 
6.23
%
Maximum amount outstanding at any month-end during the year
233,119

 
110,313

Balance outstanding at end of year
215,145

 
110,313

Weighted average interest rate at year-end
5.37
%
 
6.04
%



127


Note 14 - Income Taxes
 
The following presents the components of income tax expense for the years ended December 31:
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Current income tax provision:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
 
$
34,124

 
$
19,787

 
$
18,644

State
 
16,415

 
13,178

 
7,062

Total current income tax provision
 
50,539

 
32,965

 
25,706

Deferred income tax provision (benefit):
 
 

 
 

 
 

Federal
 
4,645

 
8,142

 
8,294

Effect of the Tax Act
 

 
(1,441
)
 
5,633

State
 
2,851

 
2,574

 
2,493

Total deferred income tax provision (benefit)
 
7,496

 
9,275

 
16,420

Total income tax provision
 
$
58,035

 
$
42,240

 
$
42,126


 
A reconciliation from statutory federal income taxes, which are based on a statutory rate of 21% for 2019 and 2018 and 35% for 2017, to the Company’s total effective income tax provisions for the years ended December 31 is as follows:
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Statutory federal income tax provision
 
$
45,729

 
$
34,803

 
$
35,778

State taxes, net of federal income tax effect
 
15,764

 
12,724

 
6,720

Cash surrender life insurance
 
(565
)
 
(582
)
 
(645
)
Tax exempt interest
 
(1,503
)
 
(1,135
)
 
(1,660
)
Non-deductible merger costs
 

 
375

 
824

LIHTC investments
 
(1,570
)
 
(761
)
 
(1,031
)
Effect of the Tax Act
 

 
(1,441
)
 
5,633

Excess tax benefit of stock-based compensation
 
(728
)
 
(1,811
)
 
(1,995
)
Prior year true-up
 

 

 
(1,108
)
Other
 
908

 
68

 
(390
)
Total income tax provision
 
$
58,035

 
$
42,240

 
$
42,126


  
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”). Among other changes, the Tax Act reduced the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. The Company performed an initial assessment and reasonably estimated the effects of the Tax Act on its deferred tax amounts to be approximately $5.6 million, which was recorded as a charge to income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2017, in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”). As required by SAB 118, the Company continued to reassess and refine the effects of the Tax Act on its deferred tax amounts during 2018. As a result, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $1.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had completed the accounting for the income tax effects of the Tax Act.


128


Deferred tax assets (liabilities) were comprised of the following temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets at December 31:
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
 
Accrued expenses
 
$
2,126

 
$
3,239

Net operating loss
 
4,765

 
6,115

Allowance for loan losses, net of bad debt charge-offs
 
10,415

 
10,709

Deferred compensation
 
3,616

 
3,649

State taxes
 
3,746

 
2,707

Loan discount
 
11,634

 
17,677

Stock-based compensation
 
3,535

 
3,234

Unrealized loss on available for sale securities
 

 
2,308

Operating lease liabilities
 
13,334

 

AMT credit and other state tax credit carryovers
 
416

 
96

Total deferred tax assets
 
53,587

 
49,734

Deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Operating lease right-of-use assets
 
$
(12,382
)
 
$

Deferred FDIC gain
 
(228
)
 
(364
)
Core deposit intangibles
 
(22,415
)
 
(27,388
)
Loan origination costs
 
(4,828
)
 
(4,760
)
Depreciation
 
(1,814
)
 
(1,192
)
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities
 
(8,639
)
 

Other
 
(4,652
)
 
(403
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
 
(54,958
)
 
(34,107
)
Valuation allowance
 

 

Net deferred tax (liabilities) asset
 
$
(1,371
)
 
$
15,627


 
The Company accounts for income taxes by recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities based upon temporary differences between the amounts for financial reporting purposes and tax basis of its assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management evaluates both positive and negative evidence, including the existence of any cumulative losses in the current year and the prior two years, the forecasts of future income, applicable tax planning strategies, and assessments of current and future economic and business conditions. This analysis is updated quarterly and adjusted as necessary. Based on the analysis, the Company has determined that a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets was not required as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code imposes limitations on a corporation’s ability to use any net unrealized built in losses and other tax attributes, such as net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, when it undergoes a 50% ownership change over a designated testing period. The Company has a Section 382 limited net operating loss carry forward of approximately $20.2 million for federal income tax purposes, which is scheduled to expire at various dates from 2026 to 2032. In addition, the Company has a Section 382 limited net operating loss carry forward of approximately $6.9 million for California franchise tax purposes, which is scheduled to expire at various dates from 2026 to 2031. The Company is expected to fully utilize the federal and California net operating loss carryforward before it expires with the application of the Section 382 annual limitation.

    

129


The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. Federal income tax as well as income and franchise tax in multiple state jurisdictions. The statute of limitations related to the consolidated Federal income tax returns is closed for all tax years up to and including 2015. The expiration of the statute of limitations related to the various state income and franchise tax returns varies by state. The Company is currently not under examination in any taxing jurisdiction.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:

 
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Balance at January 1,
 
$
2,906

 
$
2,906

Additions based on tax positions related to prior years
 

 

Balance at December 31,
 
$
2,906

 
$
2,906



The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $2.9 million and $2.9 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and is primarily comprised of unrecognized tax benefits from an acquisition during 2017. The total amount of tax benefits that, if recognized, would favorably impact the effective tax rate was $0 at December 31, 2019. The Company does not believe that the unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly within the next twelve months.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The Company had accrued for $424,000 and $246,000 of the interest and penalties at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Note 15 - Commitments, Contingencies and Concentrations of Risk

Legal Proceedings. The Company is not involved in any material pending legal proceedings other than legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that none of these legal proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse impact on the results of operations or financial condition of the Company.
 
Employment Agreements. The Company has entered into a three-year employment agreement with its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). This agreement provides for the payment of a base salary, a bonus based upon the CEO’s individual performance and the Company’s overall performance, provides a vehicle for the CEO’s use, and provides for the payment of severance benefits upon termination under specified circumstances.  

Additionally, the Bank has entered into one-year employment agreements with each of the following executive officers: the Bank’s President and Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Risk Officer and Chief Innovation Officer. The agreements provide for the payment of a base salary, a bonus based upon the individual’s performance and the overall performance of the Bank, and the payment of severance benefits upon termination under specified circumstances.

The term of each of their employment agreements automatically extends for an additional one year unless either the relevant executive on the one hand, or the Company on the other hand, gives written notice to the other party or parties hereto of such party’s or parties’ election not to extend the term, with such notice to be given not less than ninety (90) days prior to any such anniversary date, in which case the relevant employment agreement shall terminate at the conclusion of its remaining term.
 
    

130


Availability of Funding Sources. The Company funds substantially all of the loans that it originates or purchases through deposits, internally generated funds and/or borrowings. The Company competes for deposits primarily on the basis of rates, and, as a consequence, the Company could experience difficulties in attracting deposits to fund its operations if the Company does not continue to offer deposit rates at levels that are competitive with other financial institutions. To the extent that the Company is not able to maintain its currently available funding sources or to access new funding sources, it would have to curtail its loan production activities or sell loans and investment securities earlier than is optimal. Any such event could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Note 16 - Benefit Plans
 
401(k) Plan. The Bank maintains an Employee Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”) which qualifies under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the 401(k) Plan, employees may contribute from 1% to 99% of their compensation, up to the dollar limit imposed by the IRS for tax purposes. In 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Bank matched 100% of contributions for the first three percent contributed and 50% on the next two percent contributed. Contributions made to the 401(k) Plan by the Bank amounted to $2.9 million for 2019, $2.5 million for 2018 and $1.4 for 2017.
 
Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”). The 2004 Plan was approved by the Corporation’s stockholders in May 2004. The 2004 Plan authorized the granting of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock (collectively “Awards”) equal to 525,500 shares of the common stock of the Corporation for issuances to executive, key employees, officers and directors. The 2004 Plan was in effect for a period of ten years starting in February 25, 2004, the date the 2004 Plan was adopted. Awards granted under the 2004 Plan were made at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant. The Awards granted pursuant to the 2004 Plan vest at a rate of 33.3% per year. The 2004 Plan terminated in February 2014.
 
Heritage Oaks Bancorp, Inc. 2005 Equity Based Compensation Plan (the “2005 Plan”). The 2005 Plan was acquired from Heritage Oaks Bancorp, Inc. on April 1, 2017. The 2005 Plan authorized the granting of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Share Cash Only Awards. As of December 31, 2016, no further grants can be made from this plan; however, Pacific Premier assumed all unvested and unexercised awards.


131


Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan”). The 2012 Plan was approved by the Corporation’s stockholders in May 2012. The 2012 Plan originally authorized the granting of Awards equal to 620,000 shares of the common stock of the Corporation for issuances to executives, key employees, officers, and directors. The 2012 Plan will be in effect for a period of ten years from May 30, 2012, the date the 2012 Plan was adopted. Awards granted under the 2012 Plan will be made at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant. Awards granted to officers and employees may include incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights. The awards have vesting periods ranging from one to three years, where such vesting may occur in either three equal annual installments or one lump sum at the end of the third year. In May 2014, the Corporation’s stockholders approved an amendment to the 2012 Plan to increase the shares available under the plan by 800,000 shares to total 1,420,000 shares. In May 2015, the Corporation’s stockholders approved an amendment to the 2012 Plan to permit the grant of performance-based awards, including equity compensation awards that may not be subject to the deduction limitation of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The performance-based awards include (i) both performance-based equity compensation awards and performance-based cash bonus payments and (ii) restricted stock units. In May 2017, the Corporation’s stockholders approved an amendment to the 2012 Plan to increase the shares available under the plan by 3,580,000 shares to total 5,000,000 shares.
    
Heritage Oaks Bancorp, Inc. 2015 Equity Based Compensation Plan (the “2015 Plan”). The 2015 Plan was acquired from Heritage Oaks Bancorp, Inc. on April 1, 2017. The 2015 plan was approved by the stockholders of Heritage Oaks Bancorp, Inc. in May 2015. The 2015 Plan authorized the granting of various types of share-based compensation awards to the employees and Board of Directors such as stock options, restricted stock awards, and restricted stock units. Under the 2015 Plan and following the Corporation’s assumption of the 2015 Plan, a maximum of 630,473 shares of the Corporation’s common stock at the date of acquisition were reserved and available to be issued. Shares issued under this plan, other than stock options and stock appreciation rights, were counted against the plan on a two shares for every one share actually issued basis. Awards that were canceled, expired, forfeited, fail to vest, or otherwise resulted in issued shares not being delivered to the grantee, were made available for the issuance of future share-based compensation awards. Additionally, under this plan, no one individual was to be granted shares in aggregate that exceed more than 250,000 shares during any calendar year. The 2015 Plan is still active and the Corporation assumed all unvested and unexercised awards.
 
The Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan, Heritages Oaks Bancorp, Inc. 2005 Equity Based Compensation Plan, Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan and the Heritage Oaks Bancorp, Inc. 2015 Equity Based Compensation Plan are collectively the “Plans.”
 

132


Stock Options

As of December 31, 2019, there are 3,000 options outstanding on the 2004 Plan with zero available for future awards. As of December 31, 2019, there are 25,677 options outstanding on the 2005 Plan with zero available for future awards. As of December 31, 2019, there are 399,466 options outstanding on the 2012 Plan with 2,879,949 available for future awards. As of December 31, 2019, there are 24,961 options outstanding on the 2015 Plan with 655,429 available for future awards. Below is a summary of the stock option activity in the Plans for the year ended December 31, 2019:
 
2019
 
Number of Stock Options Outstanding
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term
 
Aggregate Intrinsic value
 
 
 
 
 
(in years)
 
(dollars in thousands)
Outstanding at January 1, 2019
681,933

 
$
15.26

 
 
 
 
Granted

 

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(220,118
)
 
13.17

 
 
 
 
Forfeited and expired
(8,711
)
 
15.84

 
 
 
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2019
453,104

 
$
16.26

 
4.66
 
$
7,401

Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2019
451,424

 
$
16.24

 
4.66
 
$
7,382


 
The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $4.2 million, $8.4 million and $7.7 million, respectively.
  
The amount charged against compensation expense in relation to the stock options was $132,000 for 2019, $571,000 for 2018 and $927,000 for 2017. At December 31, 2019, unrecognized compensation expense related to the options is approximately $8,000.

Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units

Below is a summary of the activity for restricted stock and restricted stock units in the Plans for the years ended December 31, 2019:
 
2019
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value Per Share
Unvested at the beginning of the year
636,077

 
$
35.98

Granted
423,823

 
29.92

Vested
(287,754
)
 
29.43

Forfeited
(32,213
)
 
34.76

Unvested at the end of the year
739,933

 
$
35.11


    

133


Compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 related to the above restricted stock grants amounted to $10.4 million, $8.5 million and $5.0 million, respectively. Restricted stock awards and restricted stock units are valued at the closing stock price on the date of grant and are expensed to stock based compensation expense over the period for which the related service is performed. The total grant date fair value of awards was $12.7 million for 2019 awards. At December 31, 2019, unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted stock award and units is approximately $14.2 million, which expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.81 years.

Other Plans

Salary Continuation Plan. The Bank implemented a non-qualified supplemental retirement plan in 2006 (the “Salary Continuation Plan”) for certain executive officers of the Bank. The Salary Continuation Plan is unfunded.

Deferred Compensation Plans. The Bank implemented a non-qualified supplemental retirement plan in 2006 (the “Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan” or “SERP”) for certain executive officers of the Bank. The Bank has acquired additional SERPs through the acquisitions of San Diego Trust Bank (“SDTB”), Independence Bank (“IDPK”) and HEOP. The SERP is unfunded. The expense incurred for the SERP for each of the last three years was $674,000, $827,000 and $721,000 resulting in a deferred compensation liability of $10.8 million and $10.9 million as of the years ended 2019 and 2018. In addition, with the acquisition of PLZZ, the Company acquired a deferred compensation plan that is unfunded and results in a deferred compensation asset and liability both in the amount of $1.8 million and $1.6 million as of the years ended 2019 and 2018.

The amounts expensed in 2019, 2018 and 2017 for all of these plans amounted to $674,000, $827,000 and $721,000 respectively. As of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, $10.8 million, $10.9 million and $8.4 million, respectively, were recorded in other liabilities on the consolidated statements of condition for each of these plans.
  
Note 17 - Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk
 
The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit in the form of originating loans or providing funds under existing lines or letters of credit. These commitments are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates and may require payment of a fee. Since many commitments are expected to expire, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Commitments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition.
 
The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit is represented by the contractual or notional amount of those instruments. The Company controls credit risk of its commitments to fund loans through credit approvals, limits and monitoring procedures. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. The Company evaluates each customer for creditworthiness.
 
The Company receives collateral to support commitments when deemed necessary. The most significant categories of collateral include real estate properties underlying mortgage loans, liens on personal property and cash on deposit with the Bank.
 
The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses to provide for commitments related to loans associated with undisbursed loan funds and unused lines of credit. The allowance for these commitments was $3.3 million at December 31, 2019 and $4.6 million at December 31, 2018. The change in the allowance for credit losses for unfunded commitments during the year ended December 31, 2019 was attributable to lower unfunded loan commitments compared to previous year end.

134



The Company’s commitments to extend credit at December 31, 2019 were $1.58 billion and $1.83 billion at December 31, 2018. The 2019 balance is primarily composed of $1.10 billion of undisbursed commitments for C&I loans.
 
Note 18 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
The fair value of an asset or liability is the exchange price that would be received to sell that asset or paid to transfer that liability (exit price) in an orderly transaction occurring in the principal market (or most advantageous market in the absence of a principal market) for such asset or liability. In estimating fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that are consistent with the market approach, the income approach, and/or the cost approach. Such valuation techniques are consistently applied. Inputs to valuation techniques include the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. ASC Topic 825 requires disclosure of the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities, including both those financial assets and financial liabilities that are not measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis and a non-recurring basis. The methodologies for estimating the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value are discussed below.

In accordance with accounting guidance, the Company groups its financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described as follows:

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These might include quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (such as interest rates, prepayment speeds, volatilities, etc.) or model-based valuation techniques where all significant assumptions are observable, either directly or indirectly, in the market.

Level 3 - Valuation is generated from model-based techniques where one or more significant inputs are not observable, either directly or indirectly, in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect the Company’s own estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques may include use of matrix pricing, discounted cash flow models, and similar techniques.
 
Because no market exists for a significant portion of the Company’s financial instruments, fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding current economic conditions, risk characteristics of various financial instruments, and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and, therefore, cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the fair values presented. Management uses its best judgment in estimating the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments; however, there are inherent limitations in any estimation technique. Therefore, for substantially all financial instruments, the fair value estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could have realized in a sales transaction at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

135


A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Management maximizes the use of observable inputs and attempts to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value measurements. Estimated fair values are disclosed for financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate fair value. These estimates are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market data and information about the financial instruments. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering the Company’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument for sale at one time, nor do they attempt to estimate the value of anticipated future business related to the instruments. In addition, the tax ramifications related to the realization of unrealized gains and losses can have a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered in any of these estimates.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following is a description of both the general and specific valuation methodologies used for certain instruments measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of these instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

Investment securities – Investment securities are generally valued based upon quotes obtained from an independent third-party pricing service, which uses evaluated pricing applications and model processes. Observable market inputs, such as, benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data are considered as part of the evaluation. The inputs are related directly to the security being evaluated, or indirectly to a similarly situated security. Market assumptions and market data are utilized in the valuation models. The Company reviews the market prices provided by the third-party pricing service for reasonableness based on the Company’s understanding of the market place and credit issues related to the securities. The Company has not made any adjustments to the market quotes provided by them and, accordingly, the Company categorized its investment portfolio within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Derivative assets and liabilities – The Company originates a variable rate loan and enters into a variable-to fixed interest rate swap with the customer. The Company also enters into an offsetting swap with a correspondent bank. These back-to-back swap agreements are intended to offset each other and allow the Company to originate a variable rate loan, while providing a contract for fixed interest payments for the customer. The net cash flow for the Company is equal to the interest income received from a variable rate loan originated with the customer. The fair value of these derivatives is based on a market standard discounted cash flow approach. Due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the fair value of these derivative contracts, the valuation of interest rate swaps is classified as Level 2.
    

136


The following fair value hierarchy tables present information about the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at the dates indicated:
 
 
 
At December 31, 2019
 
 
Fair Value Measurement Using
 
 
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Securities at
Fair Value
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Financial assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury
 
$

 
$
63,555

 
$

 
$
63,555

Agency
 

 
246,358

 

 
246,358

Corporate
 

 
151,353

 

 
151,353

Municipal bonds
 

 
397,298

 

 
397,298

Collateralized mortgage obligation: residential
 

 
9,984

 

 
9,984

Mortgage-backed securities: residential
 

 
499,836

 

 
499,836

Total securities available-for-sale
 
$

 
$
1,368,384

 
$

 
$
1,368,384

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative assets
 
$

 
$
2,103

 
$

 
$
2,103

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative liabilities
 
$

 
$
2,103

 
$

 
$
2,103


 
 
At December 31, 2018
 
 
Fair Value Measurement Using
 
 

 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Securities at
Fair Value
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Financial assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

U.S. Treasury
 
$

 
$
60,912

 
$

 
$
60,912

Agency
 

 
130,070

 
$

 
130,070

Corporate
 

 
103,543

 
$

 
103,543

Municipal bonds
 

 
238,630

 

 
238,630

Collateralized mortgage obligation: residential
 

 
24,338

 

 
24,338

Mortgage-backed securities: residential
 

 
545,729

 

 
545,729

Total securities available-for-sale
 
$

 
$
1,103,222

 
$

 
$
1,103,222

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative assets
 
$

 
$
1,681

 
$

 
$
1,681

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative liabilities
 
$

 
$
1,681

 
$

 
$
1,681




137


Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

Impaired Loans A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that payment of interest and principal will not be made in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Impairment is measured based on the fair value of the underlying collateral or the discounted expected future cash flows. Collateral generally consists of accounts receivable, inventory, fixed assets, real estate and cash. The Company measures impairment on all non-accrual loans for which it has reduced the principal balance to the value of the underlying collateral less the anticipated selling cost.

Other Real Estate Owned – OREO is initially recorded at the fair value less estimated costs to sell. This amount becomes the property’s new basis. Any fair value adjustments based on the property’s fair value less estimated costs to sell at the date of acquisition are charged to the ALLL.

The fair value of impaired loans and other real estate owned were determined using Level 3 assumptions, and represents impaired loan and other real estate owned balances for which a specific reserve has been established or on which a write down has been taken. Generally, the Company obtains third party appraisals (or property valuations) and/or collateral audits in conjunction with internal analysis based on historical experience on its impaired loans and other real estate owned to determine fair value. In determining the net realizable value of the underlying collateral for impaired loans, the Company will then discount the valuation to cover both market price fluctuations and selling costs the Company expected would be incurred in the event of foreclosure. In addition to the discounts taken, the Company’s calculation of net realizable value considered any other senior liens in place on the underlying collateral.

At December 31, 2019, substantially all of the Company’s impaired loans were evaluated based on the fair value of their underlying collateral based upon the most recent appraisal available to management. The Company completed partial charge-offs on certain impaired loans individually evaluated for impairment based on recent real estate appraisals and released the related specific reserves during the year ended December 31, 2019. The Company has recorded no specific reserve on loans deemed impaired at December 31, 2019.
    
The following table presents our assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

 
 
At December 31, 2019
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Fair Value
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Financial assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impaired loans
 
$

 
$

 
$
2,257

 
$
2,257


 
 
At December 31, 2018
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Fair Value
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Financial assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impaired loans
 
$

 
$

 
$
1,445

 
$
1,445




138


Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The fair value estimates presented herein are based on pertinent information available to management as of the dates indicated, representing an exit price.
 
 
At December 31, 2019
 
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
326,850

 
$
326,850

 
$

 
$

 
$
326,850

Interest-bearing time deposits with financial institutions
 
2,708

 
2,708

 

 

 
2,708

Investments held-to-maturity
 
37,838

 

 
38,760

 

 
38,760

Investment securities available-for-sale
 
1,368,384

 

 
1,368,384

 

 
1,368,384

Loans held for sale
 
1,672

 

 
1,821

 

 
1,821

Loans held for investment, net
 
8,722,311

 

 

 
8,691,019

 
8,691,019

Derivative asset
 
2,103

 

 
2,103

 

 
2,103

Accrued interest receivable
 
39,442

 
39,442

 

 

 
39,442

Liabilities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Deposit accounts
 
8,898,509

 
7,850,667

 
1,048,583

 

 
8,899,250

FHLB advances
 
517,026

 

 
517,291

 

 
517,291

Other borrowings
 

 

 

 

 

Subordinated debentures
 
215,145

 

 
237,001

 

 
237,001

Derivative liability
 
2,103

 

 
2,103

 

 
2,103

Accrued interest payable
 
2,686

 
2,686

 

 

 
2,686



 
 
At December 31, 2018
 
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
203,406

 
$
203,406

 
$

 
$

 
$
203,406

Interest-bearing time deposits with financial institutions
 
6,143

 
6,143

 

 

 
6,143

Investments held-to-maturity
 
45,210

 

 
44,672

 

 
44,672

Investment securities available-for-sale
 
1,103,222

 

 
1,103,222

 

 
1,103,222

Loans held for sale
 
5,719

 

 
6,072

 

 
6,072

Loans held for investment, net
 
8,836,818

 

 

 
8,697,594

 
8,697,594

Derivative asset
 
1,929

 

 
1,681

 

 
1,681

Accrued interest receivable
 
37,837

 
37,837

 

 

 
37,837

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Deposit accounts
 
8,658,351

 
7,247,673

 
1,403,524

 

 
8,651,197

FHLB advances
 
667,606

 

 
666,864

 

 
666,864

Other borrowings
 
75

 

 
75

 

 
75

Subordinated debentures
 
110,313

 

 
115,613

 

 
115,613

Derivative liability
 
1,929

 

 
1,681

 

 
1,681

Accrued interest payable
 
3,255

 
3,255

 

 

 
3,255




139


The Company’s valuation methodologies may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. While management believes the Company’s valuation methodologies are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date.

Note 19 - Earnings Per Share
 
In February 2019, the Company’s Compensation Committee of Board of Directors reviewed the various forms of outstanding equity awards, including restricted stock and restrict stock units (“RSUs”), and approved that unvested restricted stock awards will be considered participating securities. As a result of the different treatment of unvested restricted stock and unvested RSUs, beginning in 2019, earnings per common share is computed using the two-class method.

Under the two-class method, distributed and undistributed earnings allocable to participating securities are deducted from net income to determine net income allocable to common shareholders, which is then used in the numerator of both basic and diluted earnings per share calculations. Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income allocable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the reporting period, excluding outstanding participating securities. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income allocable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding over the reporting period, adjusted to include the effect of potentially dilutive common shares, but excludes awards considered participating securities. The computation of diluted earnings per common share excludes the impact of the assumed exercise or issuance of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect.

The following tables set forth the Company’s earnings per share calculations for the periods indicated:
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Basic
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
159,718

 
$
123,340

 
$
60,100

Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities
 
(1,650
)
 

 

Net income allocated to common stockholders
 
$
158,068

 
$
123,340

 
$
60,100

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
 
60,339,714

 
53,963,047

 
37,705,556

Basic earnings per common share
 
$
2.62

 
$
2.29

 
$
1.59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income allocated to common stockholders
 
$
158,068

 
$
123,340

 
$
60,100

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
 
60,339,714

 
53,963,047

 
37,705,556

Diluted effect of share-based compensation
 
352,567

 
650,010

 
805,705

Weighted average diluted common shares
 
60,692,281

 
54,613,057

 
38,511,261

Diluted earnings per common share
 
$
2.60

 
$
2.26

 
$
1.56


 
The impact of stock options, which are anti-dilutive are excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share. The dilutive impact of these securities could be included in future computations of diluted earnings per share if the market price of the common stock increases. There are no RSUs or stock options that were anti-dilutive at December 31, 2019 and 2018. The weighted average number of stock options excluded was 17,524 for December 31, 2017.  


140


Note 20 - Derivative Instruments

From time to time, the Company enters into interest rate swap agreements with certain borrowers to assist them in mitigating their interest rate risk exposure associated with the loans they have with the Company. At the same time, the Company enters into identical interest rate swap agreements with another financial institution to mitigate the Company’s interest rate risk exposure associated with the swap agreements it enters into with its borrowers. At December 31, 2019, the Company had over-the-counter derivative instruments and centrally-cleared derivative instruments with matched terms with an aggregate notional amount of $76.3 million and a fair value of $2.1 million. The fair value of these agreements are determined through a third party valuation model used by the Company’s counterparty bank, which uses observable market data such as cash LIBOR rates, prices of Eurodollar future contracts and market swap rates. The fair values of these swaps are recorded as components of other assets and other liabilities in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. Changes in the fair value of these swaps, which occur due to changes in interest rates, are recorded in the Company’s income statement as a component of noninterest income. Since the terms of the swap agreements between the Company and its borrowers have been matched with the terms of swap agreements with another financial institution, the adjustments for the change in their fair value offset each other and net to zero in non-interest income.

Over-the-counter contracts are tailored to meet the needs of the counterparties involved and, therefore, generally contain a greater degree of credit risk and liquidity risk than centrally-cleared contracts, which have standardized terms. Although changes in the fair value of swap agreements between the Company and borrowers and the Company and other financial institutions offset each other, changes in the credit risk of these counterparties may result in a difference in the fair value of the swap agreements. Offsetting over-the-counter swap agreements the Company has with other financial institutions are collateralized with cash, and swap agreements with borrowers are secured by the collateral arrangements for the underlying loans these borrowers have with the Company. During the year ended December 31, 2019, there were no losses recorded on swap agreements, attributable to the change in credit risk associated with a counterparty. All interest rate swap agreements entered into by the Company as of December 31, 2019 are free-standing derivatives and are not designated as hedging instruments.

The following tables summarize the Company’s derivative instruments, included in “other assets” and “other liabilities” in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
 
December 31, 2019
 
Derivative Assets
 
Derivative Liabilities
 
Notional
 
Fair Value
 
Notional
 
Fair Value
 
(dollars in thousands)
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap contracts
$
76,314

 
$
2,103

 
$
76,314

 
$
2,103

Total derivative instruments
$
76,314

 
$
2,103

 
$
76,314

 
$
2,103


 
December 31, 2018
 
Derivative Assets
 
Derivative Liabilities
 
Notional
 
Fair Value
 
Notional
 
Fair Value
 
(dollars in thousands)
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap contracts
$
57,502

 
$
1,681

 
$
57,502

 
$
1,681

Total derivative instruments
$
57,502

 
$
1,681

 
$
57,502

 
$
1,681




141


Note 21 - Balance Sheet Offsetting

Derivative financial instruments may be eligible for offset in the consolidated balance sheets, such as those subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or a similar agreement. Under these agreements, the Company has the right to net settle multiple contracts with the same counterparty. The Company offers an interest rate swap product to qualified customers, which are then paired with derivative contracts the Company enters into with a counterparty bank. While derivative contracts entered into with counterparty banks may be subject to enforceable master netting agreements, derivative contracts with customers may not be subject to enforceable master netting arrangements. The Company elected to account for centrally-cleared derivative contracts on a gross basis. With regard to derivative contracts not centrally cleared through a clearinghouse, regulations require collateral to be posted by the party with a net liability position. Parties to a centrally cleared over-the-counter derivative exchange daily payments that reflect the daily change in value of the derivative. These payments are commonly referred to as variation margin and are treated as settlements of derivative exposure rather than as collateral.

Financial instruments that are eligible for offset in the consolidated statements of financial condition as of December 31, 2019 are presented in the table below:
 
December 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated
Balance Sheets
 
 
 
Gross Amounts Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Net Amounts Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Financial Instruments
 
Cash Collateral (1)
 
Net Amount
 
(dollars in thousands)
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as
hedging instruments
$
2,103

 
$

 
$
2,103

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,103

Total
$
2,103

 
$

 
$
2,103

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,103

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as
hedging instruments
$
2,107

 
$
(4
)
 
$
2,103

 
$

 
$
(1,678
)
 
$
425

Total
$
2,107

 
$
(4
)
 
$
2,103

 
$

 
$
(1,678
)
 
$
425

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Represents cash collateral held with counterparty bank.


142


 
December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated
Balance Sheets
 
 
 
Gross Amounts Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Net Amounts Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Financial Instruments
 
Cash Collateral (1)
 
Net Amount
 
(dollars in thousands)
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as
hedging instruments
$
2,177

 
$
(496
)
 
$
1,681

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,681

Total
$
2,177

 
$
(496
)
 
$
1,681

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,681

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as
hedging instruments
$
1,681

 
$

 
$
1,681

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,681

Total
$
1,681

 
$

 
$
1,681

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,681

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Represents cash collateral held with counterparty bank.


Note 22 - Revenue Recognition

The Company earns revenue from a variety of sources. The Company’s principal source of revenue is interest income on loans, investment securities and other interest earning assets, while the remainder of the Company’s revenue is earned from a variety of fees, service charges, gains and losses, and other income, all of which are classified as noninterest income.

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”, and all subsequent amendments that modified ASC 606. ASC 606 does not apply to revenue associated with financial instruments, including revenue from loans and securities, certain noninterest income streams such as gain or loss associated with derivatives, and income from bank owned life insurance. Revenue streams within the scope of and accounted for under ASC 606 include: service charges and fees on deposit accounts, debit card interchange fees, fees from other services the Company provides its customers and gains and losses from the sale of other real estate owned and property, premises and equipment. ASC 606 requires revenue to be recognized when the Company satisfies the related performance obligations by transferring to the customer a good or service. The recognition of revenue under ASC 606 requires the Company to first identify the contract with the customer, identify the associated performance obligations, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations and finally recognize revenue when the performance obligations have been satisfied and the good or service has been transferred. The majority of the Company’s contracts with customers associated with revenue streams that are within the scope of ASC 606 are considered short-term in nature and can be canceled at any time by the customer or the Company without penalty, such as a deposit account agreement. These revenue streams are included in noninterest income.

143



The following table provides a summary of the Company’s noninterest income, segregated by revenue streams within and outside the scope of ASC 606 for the periods indicated:

 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
Within Scope(1)
 
Out-of-Scope(2)
 
Within Scope(1)
 
Out-of-Scope(2)
 
Within Scope(1)
 
Out-of-Scope(2)
 
(dollars in thousands)
Noninterest income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loan servicing fees
$

 
$
1,840

 
$

 
$
1,445

 
$

 
$
787

Service charges on deposit accounts
5,769

 

 
5,128

 

 
3,273

 

Other service fee income
1,438

 

 
902

 

 
1,847

 

Debit card interchange income
3,004

 

 
4,326

 

 
2,043

 

Earnings on bank-owned life insurance

 
3,486

 

 
3,427

 

 
2,279

Net gain from sales of loans

 
6,642

 

 
10,759

 

 
12,468

Net gain from sales of investment securities

 
8,571

 

 
1,399

 

 
2,737

Other income
1,015

 
3,471

 
1,242

 
2,399

 
491

 
5,189

Total noninterest income
$
11,226

 
$
24,010

 
$
11,598

 
$
19,429

 
$
7,654

 
$
23,460

______________________________
(1) Revenues from contracts with customers accounted for under ASC 606.
(2) Revenues not within the scope of ASC 606 and accounted for under other applicable U.S. GAAP requirements.

The major revenue streams by fee type that are within the scope of ASC 606 presented in the above tables are described in additional detail below:

Service Charges on Deposit Accounts and Other Service Fee Income. Service charges on deposit accounts and other service fee income consists of periodic service charges on deposit accounts and transaction based fees such as those related to overdrafts, ATM charges and wire transfer fees. The majority of these revenues are accounted for under ASC 606. Performance obligations for periodic service charges on deposit accounts are typically short-term in nature and are generally satisfied on a monthly basis, while performance obligations for other transaction based fees are typically satisfied at a point in time (which may consist of only a few moments to perform the service or transaction) with no further obligations on behalf of the Company to the customer. Periodic service charges are generally collected monthly directly from the customer’s deposit account, and at the end of a statement cycle, while transaction based service charges are typically collected at the time of or soon after the service is performed.

Debit Card Interchange Income. Debit card interchange fee income consists of transaction processing fees associated with customer debit card transactions processed through a payment network and are accounted for under ASC 606. These fees are earned each time a request for payment is originated by a customer debit cardholder at a merchant. In these transactions, the Company transfers funds from the debit cardholder’s account to a merchant through a payment network at the request of the debit cardholder by way of the debit card transaction. The related performance obligations are generally satisfied when the transfer of funds is complete, which is generally a point in time when the debit card transaction is processed. Debit card interchange fees are typically received and recorded as revenue on a daily basis.

    

144


Other Income. Other noninterest income includes other miscellaneous fees, which are accounted for under ASC 606; however, much like service charges on deposit accounts, these fees have performance obligations that are very short-term in nature and are typically satisfied at a point in time. Revenue is typically recorded at the time these fees are collected, which is generally upon the completion the related transaction or service provided.

Other revenue streams that may be applicable to the Company include gains and losses from the sale of nonfinancial assets such as other real estate owned and property premises and equipment. The Company accounts for these revenue streams in accordance with ASC 610-20, which requires the Company to look to guidance in ASC 606 in the application of certain measurement and recognition concepts. The Company records gains and losses on the sale of nonfinancial assets when control of the asset has been surrendered to the buyer, which generally occurs at a specific point in time.

Practical Expedient. The Company also employs a practical expedient with respect to contract acquisition costs, which are generally capitalized and amortized into expense. These costs relate to expenses incurred directly attributable to the efforts to obtain a contract. The practical expedient allows the Company to immediately recognize contract acquisition costs in current period earnings when these costs would have been amortized over a period of one year or less.

At December 31, 2019 the Company did not have any material contract assets or liabilities in its consolidated financial statements related to revenue streams within the scope of ASC 606, and there were no material changes in those balances during the reporting period.

Note 23 - Leases

The Company accounts for its leases in accordance with ASC 842, which was implemented on January 1, 2019, and requires the Company to record liabilities for future lease obligations as well as assets representing the right to use the underlying leased asset. The Company’s leases primarily represent future obligations to make payments for the use of buildings or space for its operations. Liabilities to make future lease payments are recorded in accrued expenses and other liabilities, while right-of-use assets are recorded in other assets in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2019, all of the Company’s leases were classified as operating leases or short-term leases. Liabilities to make future lease payments and right of use assets are recorded for operating leases and not short-term leases. These liabilities and right-of-use assets are determined based on the total contractual base rents for each lease, which include options to extend or renew each lease, where applicable, and where the Company believes it has an economic incentive to extend or renew the lease. Future contractual base rents are discounted using the rate implicit in the lease or using the Company’s estimated incremental borrowing rate if the rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable. For leases that contain variable lease payments, the Company assumes future lease payment escalations based on a lease payment escalation rate specified in the lease or the specified index rate observed at the time of lease commencement. Liabilities to make future lease payments are accounted for using the interest method, being reduced by periodic contractual lease payments net of periodic interest accretion. Right-of-use assets for operating leases are amortized over the term of the associated lease by amounts that represent the difference between periodic straight-line lease expense and periodic interest accretion in the related liability to make future lease payments.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, lease expense totaled $14.1 million, and was recorded in premises and occupancy expense in the consolidated statements of income. For the year ended December 31, 2019, lease expense attributable to operating leases totaled approximately $11.7 million. Lease expense attributable to short-term leases for the year ended December 31, 2019 totaled approximately $2.4 million. Short-term leases are leases that have a term of 12 months or less at commencement.


145


The following table presents supplemental information related to operating leases as of the period indicated:
 
 
December 31, 2019
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Balance Sheet:
 
 
Operating lease right of use assets
 
$
43,177

Operating lease liabilities
 
46,498

Cash Flows:
 
 
Operating cash flows from operating leases
 
11,747



The following table provides information related to minimum contractual lease payments and other information associated with the Company’s leases as of December 31, 2019:
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
Thereafter
 
Total
 
(dollars in thousands)
Contractual base rents (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating leases
$
10,138

 
$
10,602

 
$
10,137

 
$
9,055

 
$
7,318

 
$
7,265

 
$
54,515

Short-term leases
143

 
7

 

 

 

 

 
150

Total contractual base rents
$
10,281

 
$
10,609

 
$
10,137

 
$
9,055

 
$
7,318

 
$
7,265

 
$
54,665

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total liability to make lease payments
 
$
46,498

Difference in undiscounted and discounted future lease payments
 
8,167

Weighted average discount rate
 
6.13
%
Weighted average remaining lease term (years)
 
5.4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Contractual base rents reflect options to extend and renewals, and do not include property taxes and other operating expenses due under respective lease agreements.


The Company from time to time leases portions of space it owns to other parties. Income received from these transactions is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the sublease. For the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, rental income totaled $142,000 and $480,000, respectively.

The following table provides information related to minimum contractual lease payments for the periods indicated below as of December 31, 2018 (1):
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
Thereafter
 
Total
 
(dollars in thousands)
Minimum contractual lease payments
$
11,468

 
$
10,869

 
$
10,133

 
$
9,296

 
$
8,124

 
$
10,518

 
$
60,408

(1) Contractual base rents in the table above are reflective of future lease obligations under ASC 840, prior to the implementation of ASC 842. The amounts in the table above do not reflect extensions or renewals and do not include property taxes and other operating expenses due under respective lease agreements. The amounts in the table above also reflect future lease obligations for certain leases that had not yet commenced as of December 31, 2018.



146


Note 24 - Related Parties
 
Loans to the Company’s executive officers and directors are made in the ordinary course of business, in accordance with applicable regulations and the Company’s policies and procedures. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had related party loans outstanding totaling $5.5 million and $5.8 million, respectively.
 
At the end of 2019, the Company had related party deposits of $510.2 million compared to $471.9 million at the end of 2018. John J. Carona was appointed to the Board of Directors on March 15, 2013, in connection with the Company’s acquisition of First Associations Bank (“FAB”). Mr. Carona is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Associations, Inc. (“Associa”), a Texas corporation that specializes in providing management and related services for homeowners associations located across the United States. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, $468.9 million and $436.2 million, respectively, of the related party deposits were attributable to Associa.
  
Note 25 - Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)
 
The following is a summary of selected financial data presented below by quarter for the periods indicated:
 
 
First
Quarter
 
Second
Quarter
 
Third
Quarter
 
Fourth
Quarter
 
 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
For the year ended December 31, 2019:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 
$
131,243

 
$
132,414

 
$
132,604

 
$
129,846

Interest expense
 
19,837

 
21,773

 
20,269

 
16,927

Provision for credit losses
 
1,526

 
334

 
1,562

 
2,297

Noninterest income
 
7,681

 
6,324

 
11,430

 
9,801

Noninterest expense
 
63,577

 
63,936

 
65,336

 
66,216

Income tax provision
 
15,266

 
14,168

 
15,492

 
13,109

Net income
 
$
38,718

 
$
38,527

 
$
41,375

 
$
41,098

Earnings per share:
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.62

 
$
0.62

 
$
0.69

 
$
0.69

Diluted
 
0.62

 
0.62

 
0.69

 
0.69

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended December 31, 2018:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest income
 
$
90,827

 
$
92,699

 
$
128,876

 
$
136,021

Interest expense
 
9,546

 
11,528

 
16,163

 
18,475

Provision for credit losses
 
2,253

 
1,761

 
1,981

 
2,258

Noninterest income
 
7,666

 
8,151

 
8,240

 
6,970

Noninterest expense
 
49,808

 
50,076

 
82,782

 
67,239

Income tax provision
 
8,884

 
10,182

 
7,798

 
15,376

Net income
 
$
28,002

 
$
27,303

 
$
28,392

 
$
39,643

Earnings per share:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
 
$
0.61

 
$
0.59

 
$
0.46

 
$
0.64

Diluted
 
0.60

 
0.58

 
0.46

 
0.63




147


Note 26 - Parent Company Financial Information
 
The Corporation is a California-based bank holding company organized in 1997 as a Delaware corporation and owns 100% of the capital stock of the Bank, its principal operating subsidiary. The Bank was incorporated and commenced operations in 1983. Condensed financial statements of the Corporation are as follows:
PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP, INC.
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(Parent company only)
 
 
At December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
13,717

 
$
13,160

Investment in subsidiaries
 
2,217,903

 
2,068,077

Other assets
 
1,230

 
1,689

Total Assets
 
$
2,232,850

 
$
2,082,926

Liabilities
 
 

 
 

Subordinated debentures
 
$
215,145

 
$
110,313

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
5,111

 
2,916

Total Liabilities
 
220,256

 
113,229

Total Stockholders’ Equity
 
2,012,594

 
1,969,697

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
$
2,232,850

 
$
2,082,926




PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Parent company only)
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividend income from the Bank
 
$
54,118

 
$

 
$

Interest income
 
51

 
57

 
36

Total income
 
54,169

 
57

 
36

Expense
 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest expense on subordinated debentures
 
10,680

 
6,716

 
4,721

Compensation and benefits
 
3,106

 
2,757

 
2,832

Other noninterest expense
 
2,818

 
3,384

 
6,123

Total expense
 
16,604

 
12,857

 
13,676

Income (loss) before income tax provision
 
37,565

 
(12,800
)
 
(13,640
)
Income tax benefit
 
(4,695
)
 
(3,680
)
 
(5,417
)
Income (loss) before undistributed income of subsidiary
 
42,260

 
(9,120
)
 
(8,223
)
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiary
 
117,458

 
132,460

 
68,323

Net income
 
$
159,718

 
$
123,340

 
$
60,100




 

148


PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP, INC.
SUMMARY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Parent company only)
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
159,718

 
$
123,340

 
$
60,100

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash used in operating activities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Share-based compensation expense
 
10,528

 
9,033

 
5,809

Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiary and dividends from the bank
 
(117,458
)
 
(132,460
)
 
(68,323
)
Increase in current and deferred taxes
 
42

 
65

 

Change in accrued expenses and other liabilities, net
 
3,131

 
(4,149
)
 
(365
)
Change in accrued interest receivable and other assets, net
 
(4,826
)
 
2,461

 
817

Net cash provided by (used) in operating activities
 
51,135

 
(1,710
)
 
(1,962
)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash acquired in acquisitions, net
 

 
2,985

 

Other, net
 

 
(5,467
)
 
601

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
 

 
(2,482
)
 
601

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Redemption of junior subordinated debt securities
 
(18,558
)
 

 

Proceeds from issuance of subordinated debt, net
 
122,453

 

 

Cash dividends paid
 
(53,867
)
 

 

Repurchase and retirement of common stock
 
(100,000
)
 

 

Proceeds from exercise of options
 
2,679

 
1,924

 
4,592

Restricted stock surrendered and canceled
 
(3,285
)
 
(1,669
)
 
(1,258
)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
 
(50,578
)
 
255

 
3,334

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
557

 
(3,937
)
 
1,973

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
 
13,160

 
17,097

 
15,124

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
 
$
13,717

 
13,160

 
$
17,097


  
Note 27 - Acquisitions

Grandpoint Capital, Inc. Acquisition

Effective as of July 1, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of Grandpoint, the holding company of Grandpoint Bank, a California-chartered bank, with $3.1 billion in total assets, $2.4 billion in gross loans and $2.5 billion in total deposits as of June 30, 2018.

Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, each outstanding share of Grandpoint voting common stock and Grandpoint non-voting common stock was converted into the right to receive 0.4750 shares of the Corporation’s common stock. The value of the total transaction consideration was approximately $602.2 million, after approximately $28.1 million in aggregate cash consideration payable to holders of Grandpoint share-based compensation awards by Grandpoint. The transaction consideration represented the issuance of 15,758,089 shares of the Corporation’s common stock, valued at $38.15 per share, which was the closing price of the Corporation’s common stock on June 29, 2018, the last trading day prior to the consummation of the acquisition.
    

149


Goodwill in the amount of $312.6 million was recognized in the Grandpoint acquisition. Goodwill represents the future economic benefits rising from net assets acquired that are not individually identified and separately recognized and is attributable to synergies expected to be derived from the combination of the two entities. Goodwill recognized in this transaction is not deductible for income tax purposes.

The following table represents the Grandpoint assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of July 1, 2018 and the fair value adjustments and amounts recorded by the Company under the acquisition method of accounting:

 
Grandpoint
 
Fair Value
 
Fair
 
Book Value
 
Adjustment
 
Value
 
(dollars in thousands)
ASSETS ACQUIRED
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
147,551

 
$

 
$
147,551

Investment securities
395,905

 
(3,047
)
 
392,858

Loans, gross
2,404,042

 
(51,325
)
 
2,352,717

Allowance for loan losses
(18,665
)
 
18,665

 

Fixed assets
6,015

 
3,107

 
9,122

Core deposit intangible
5,093

 
66,850

 
71,943

Deferred tax assets
14,185

 
(9,157
)
 
5,028

Other assets
97,441

 
(436
)
 
97,005

Total assets acquired
$
3,051,567

 
$
24,657

 
$
3,076,224

LIABILITIES ASSUMED
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
$
2,506,663

 
$
266

 
$
2,506,929

Borrowings
255,155

 
(232
)
 
254,923

Other Liabilities
23,687

 
1,172

 
24,859

Total liabilities assumed
2,785,505

 
1,206

 
2,786,711

Excess of assets acquired over liabilities assumed
$
266,062

 
$
23,451

 
289,513

Consideration paid
 
 
 
 
602,152

Goodwill recognized
 
 
 
 
$
312,639



Such fair values are preliminary estimates and subject to refinement for up to one year after the closing date of acquisition as additional information relative to the closing date fair values becomes available and such information is considered final, whichever is earlier. Since the acquisition, the Company has made net adjustments of $580,000 related to deferred tax assets and other assets. During the second quarter of 2019, the Company finalized its fair values with this acquisition.

Plaza Bancorp Acquisition

Effective as of November 1, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of PLZZ, the holding company of Plaza Bank, a California chartered banking corporation headquartered in Irvine, California with $1.25 billion in total assets, $1.06 billion in gross loans and $1.08 billion in total deposits at October 31, 2017.

Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, each outstanding share of PLZZ common stock was converted into the right to receive 0.2000 shares of the Corporation’s common stock. The value of the total deal consideration was approximately $245.8 million after approximately $6.5 million of aggregate cash consideration payable to holders of unexercised options and warrants exercisable for shares of PLZZ common stock by PLZZ. The transaction consideration represented the issuance of 6,049,373 shares of the Corporation’s common stock, which had a value of $40.40 per share, which was the closing price of the Corporation’s common stock on October 31, 2017, the last trading day prior to the consummation of the acquisition.


150


Goodwill in the amount of $124.0 million was recognized in the PLZZ acquisition. Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from net assets acquired that are not individually identified and separately recognized and is attributable to synergies expected to be derived from the combination of the two entities. Goodwill recognized in this transaction is not deductible for income tax purposes.

The following table represents the PLZZ assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of November 1, 2017 and the fair value adjustments and amounts recorded by the Company under the acquisition method of accounting: 

 
PLZZ
 
Fair Value
 
Fair
 
Book Value
 
Adjustment
 
Value
 
(dollars in thousands)
ASSETS ACQUIRED
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
150,459

 
$

 
$
150,459

Loans, gross
1,069,359

 
(6,458
)
 
1,062,901

Allowance for loan losses
(13,009
)
 
13,009

 

Fixed assets
7,389

 
(1,424
)
 
5,965

Core deposit intangible
198

 
10,575

 
10,773

Deferred tax assets
11,849

 
(6,123
)
 
5,726

Other assets
19,495

 
(589
)
 
18,906

Total assets acquired
$
1,245,740

 
$
8,990

 
$
1,254,730

LIABILITIES ASSUMED
  
 
  
 
  
Deposits
$
1,081,727

 
$
1,224

 
$
1,082,951

Borrowings
40,755

 
397

 
41,152

Other Liabilities
8,956

 
(450
)
 
8,506

Total liabilities assumed
1,131,438

 
1,171

 
1,132,609

Excess of assets acquired over liabilities assumed
$
114,302

 
$
7,819

 
122,121

Consideration paid
  
 
  
 
245,761

Goodwill recognized
  
 
  
 
$
123,640



The fair values are estimates and are subject to adjustment for up to one year after the merger date. Since the acquisition, the Company has made net adjustments of $1.8 million related to core deposit intangibles, deferred tax assets, loans and other assets and liabilities. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company finalized its fair values with this acquisition.

Heritage Oaks Bancorp Acquisition

Effective as of April 1, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of HEOP, the holding company of Heritage Oaks Bank, a California state-chartered bank based in Paso Robles, California (“Heritage Oaks Bank”) with $2.01 billion in total assets, $1.36 billion in gross loans and $1.67 billion in total deposits at March 31, 2017.

Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, each outstanding share of HEOP common stock was converted into the right to receive 0.3471 shares of the Corporation’s common stock. The value of the total deal consideration was approximately $467.4 million, which included approximately $3.9 million of aggregate cash consideration payable to holders of Heritage Oaks share-based compensation awards, and the issuance of 11,959,022 shares of the Corporation’s common stock, which had a value of $38.55 per share, which was the closing price of the Corporation’s common stock on March 31, 2017, the last trading day prior to the consummation of the acquisition.

    

151


Goodwill in the amount of $270.0 million was recognized in the HEOP acquisition. Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from net assets acquired that are not individually identified and separately recognized and is attributable to synergies expected to be derived from the combination of the two entities. Goodwill recognized in this transaction is not deductible for income tax purposes.

The following table represents the HEOP assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of April 1, 2017 and the fair value adjustments and amounts recorded by the Company under the acquisition method of accounting:
 
 
HEOP
Book Value
 
Fair Value
Adjustments
 
Fair
Value
ASSETS ACQUIRED
(dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
$
78,728

 
$

 
$
78,728

Investment securities
445,299

 
(2,376
)
 
442,923

Loans, gross
1,384,949

 
(20,261
)
 
1,364,688

Allowance for loan losses
(17,200
)
 
17,200

 

Fixed assets
35,567

 
(665
)
 
34,902

Core deposit intangible
3,207

 
24,916

 
28,123

Deferred tax assets
17,850

 
(7,606
)
 
10,244

Other assets
55,235

 
(21
)
 
55,214

Total assets acquired
$
2,003,635

 
$
11,187

 
$
2,014,822

LIABILITIES ASSUMED
 

 
 

 
 

Deposits
$
1,668,085

 
$
1,465

 
$
1,669,550

Borrowings
139,150

 
(116
)
 
139,034

Other Liabilities
8,059

 
293

 
8,352

Total liabilities assumed
1,815,294

 
1,642

 
1,816,936

Excess of assets acquired over liabilities assumed
$
188,341

 
$
9,545

 
197,886

Consideration paid
 

 
 

 
467,439

Goodwill recognized
 

 
 

 
$
269,553



The fair values are estimates and are subject to adjustment for up to one year after the merger date. Since the acquisition, the Company made net adjustments of $600,000 to deferred tax assets and other liabilities. During the second quarter of 2018, the Company finalized its fair values with this acquisition.

The loan portfolios of Grandpoint, PLZZ and HEOP’s were recorded at fair value at the date of each acquisition. The valuation of loan portfolios of Grandpoint, PLZZ, and HEOP’s were performed as of the acquisition dates to assess their fair values. The loan portfolios were split into two groups: loan with credit deterioration and loans without credit deterioration, and then segmented further by loan type. The fair value was calculated on an individual loan basis using a discounted cash flow analysis. The discount rate utilized was based on a weighted average cost of capital, considering the cost of equity and cost of debt. Also factored into the fair value estimates were loss rates, recovery period and prepayment rates based on industry standards.

    

152


For loans acquired from Grandpoint, PLZZ and HEOP, the contractual amounts due, expected cash flows to be collected, interest component and fair value as of the respective acquisition dates were as follows:
 
 
Acquired Loans
 
 
Grandpoint
 
PLZZ
 
HEOP
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Contractual amounts due
 
$
3,496,905

 
$
1,708,685

 
$
1,717,230

Cash flows not expected to be collected
 
39,071

 
20,152

 
4,442

Expected cash flows
 
3,457,834

 
1,688,533

 
1,712,788

Interest component of expected cash flows
 
1,105,117

 
625,632

 
348,100

Fair value of acquired loans
 
$
2,352,717

 
$
1,062,901

 
$
1,364,688



In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, there was no carryover of the allowance for loan losses that had been previously recorded by Grandpoint, PLZZ and HEOP.
 
The Company also determined the fair value of the core deposit intangible, securities and deposits with the assistance of third-party valuations and determined the fair value of OREO from recent appraisals of the properties less estimated costs to sell. Since the fair value of intangible assets is calculated as if they were stand-alone assets, the presumption is that a hypothetical buyer of the intangible asset would be able to take advantage of potential after tax benefits resulting from the asset purchase.

The core deposit intangible on non-maturing deposit represents future benefits arising from savings on source of funding and was determined by evaluating the underlying characteristics of the deposit relationships, including customer attrition, deposit interest rates, service charge income, overhead expense and costs of alternative funding. The value of the after tax savings on cost of fund is the present value over an estimated fifty-year horizon, using the discount rate applicable to the asset.

In determining the fair value of certificates of deposit, a discounted cash flow analysis was used, which involved present valuing the contractual payments over the remaining life of the certificates of deposit at market-based interest rates.

The operating results of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2018 include the operating results of Grandpoint, PLZZ and HEOP since their respective acquisition dates. The following table presents the net interest and other income, net income and earnings per share as if the merger with Grandpoint, PLZZ and HEOP were effective as of January 1, 2017. The unaudited pro forma information in the following table is intended for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of our future operating results or operating results that would have occurred had the mergers been completed at the beginning of each respective year. No assumptions have been applied to the pro forma results of operations regarding possible revenue enhancements, expense efficiencies or asset dispositions.

There were no material, nonrecurring adjustments to the unaudited pro forma net interest and other income, net income and earnings per share presented below:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Net interest and other income
$
473,748

 
$
465,400

Net income
133,565

 
96,758

Basic earnings per share
2.16

 
1.58

Diluted earnings per share
2.14

 
1.56




153


Note 28 - Subsequent Events
 
Quarterly Cash Dividend
On January 21, 2020, the Corporation’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on February 14, 2020 to shareholders of record on February 3, 2020.

Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. and Opus Bank
On January 31, 2020, the Corporation and the Bank entered into a definitive agreement with Opus Bank, a California-chartered state bank (“Opus”), pursuant to which the Company will acquire Opus in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.0 billion, or $26.82 per share, based on a closing price for the Corporation’s common stock of $29.80 on January 31, 2020. Upon consummation of the acquisition, holders of Opus common stock will have the right receive 0.90 shares of the Corporation’s common stock for each share of Opus stock. We are expected to issue approximately 34.7 million shares of our common stock in the Opus acquisition.

Opus is a California-chartered state bank headquartered in Irvine, California with $8.0 billion in total assets, $5.9 billion in gross loans and $6.5 billion in total deposits as of December 31, 2019. Opus operates 46 banking offices located throughout California, Washington, Oregon and Arizona. The transaction will increase the Company’s total assets to approximately $20 billion on a pro forma basis as of December 31, 2019.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and approval from the Corporation’s and Opus’s shareholders. Opus directors who own shares of Opus common stock and certain executive officers and shareholders have entered into agreements with Pacific Premier, the Bank and Opus pursuant to which they have agreed, among other things, in their capacity as shareholders of Opus to vote their shares of Opus common stock and Opus preferred stock in favor of the merger agreement. For additional details, see “Item 1. Business—Recent Developments”
and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Proposed Acquisition of Opus.”


154


ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
None.
  
ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) under the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.
 
Based on our evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K in providing reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in periodic reports that we file or submit to the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
 
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with the authorization of its management and directors; and
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019. In making this assessment, management used the framework set forth in the report entitled “Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, or COSO. The COSO framework summarizes each of the components of a company’s internal control system, including (i) the control environment, (ii) risk assessment, (iii) control activities, (iv) information and communication and (v) monitoring. Based on this assessment, our management believes that, as of December 31, 2019, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.
 

155


Crowe LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Company’s financial statements included in the Annual Report, issued an audit report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of, and for the year ended December 31, 2019. Crowe LLP’s audit report appears in Item 8 of this Annual Report.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
We regularly review our system of internal control over financial reporting and make changes to our processes and systems to improve controls and increase efficiency, while ensuring that we maintain an effective internal control environment. Changes may include such activities as implementing new, more efficient systems, consolidating activities and migrating processes.
 
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the three months ended December 31, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
  
ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION
 
None
 

156


PART III
  

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by this item with respect to our directors and certain corporate governance practices is contained in our Proxy Statement for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”) to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Such information is incorporated herein by reference.
We maintain a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to our Board of Directors, principal executive officer, and principal financial officer, as well as all of our other employees. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics can be found on our internet website located at www.ppbi.com.

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by this Item regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year. Information relating to securities authorized for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plans is included in Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10‑K under “Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.”

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year.

ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year.

157


PART IV
  
ITEM 15.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
(a)    Documents filed as part of this report.
 
(1)
The following financial statements are incorporated by reference from Item 8 hereof:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Consolidated Statement of Other Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
(2)
All schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulation of the SEC are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or related notes thereto.

(b)
The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and this list includes the Exhibit Index.
 
Exhibit No.
Description
4.3
Long-term borrowing instruments are omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K. The Company undertakes to furnish copies of such instruments to the SEC upon request.
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document #
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document #
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document #
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document #
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document #
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document #
104
The cover page of Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, formatted in Inline XBRL (contained in Exhibit 101)
 
 
(1)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant's Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 13, 2016.
(2)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant's Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 9, 2017.
(3)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant's Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 12, 2018.
(4)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 15, 2018.
(5)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-20497) filed with the SEC on January 27, 1997.
(6)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on April 23, 2004.
(7)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-117857) filed with the SEC on September 3, 2004.
(8)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 19, 2006.
(9)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 4, 2012.
(10)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 2, 2017.
(11)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 1, 2016.
(12)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant's Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 2, 2016.
(13)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 16, 2017.
(14)
Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 6, 2020.
 
 
*
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
#
Attached as Exhibit 101 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2019 of Pacific Premier Bancorp., Inc. are the following documents in XBRL (eXtensive Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2019 and 2018; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017; (iii) Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017; (iv) Other Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


ITEM 16.  FORM 10-K SUMMARY

None.

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP, INC.
 
By:
 
/s/ Steven R. Gardner
 
 
 
Steven R. Gardner
 
 
 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
DATED: February 28, 2020
 
    

158


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
Signature
Title
Date
 
 
 
 
/s/ Steven R. Gardner
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
February 28, 2020
Steven R. Gardner
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Ronald J. Nicolas, Jr.
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
February 28, 2020
Ronald J. Nicolas, Jr.
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Lori Wright
Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
February 28, 2020
Lori Wright
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ John J. Carona
Director
February 28, 2020
John J. Carona
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Ayad A. Fargo
Director
February 28, 2020
Ayad A Fargo
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Joseph L. Garrett
Director
February 28, 2020
Joseph L. Garrett
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Jeff C. Jones
Director
February 28, 2020
Jeff C. Jones
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ M. Christian Mitchell
Director
February 28, 2020
M. Christian Mitchell
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Michael J. Morris
Director
February 28, 2020
Michael J. Morris
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Barbara S. Polsky
Director
February 28, 2020
Barbara S. Polsky
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Zareh H. Sarrafian
Director
February 28, 2020
Zareh H. Sarrafian
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Jaynie Miller Studenmund
Director
February 28, 2020
Jaynie Miller Studenmund
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Cora M. Tellez
Director
February 28, 2020
Cora M. Tellez
 
 

159